Lothian schools come top of the class after Scottish Cup thrillers

LOTHIANS school football teams have forced their way into the latter stages of national competition after a thrilling climax to the under-15 and under-18 Inter Association Scottish Cup qualifying groups.

West Lothian reached the quarter-finals of the under-18 Senior Inter Association Scottish Cup, while an under-15 select team comprising players from East and Midlothian also qualified for the latter stages.

West's success came thanks to a 4-2 win over a Lothian amalgam made up of senior secondary school players from Edinburgh, East Lothian and Midlothian, rendering the achievement of the under-18 team particularly impressive.

West Lothian coach Scott Brown, a teacher at Linlithgow Academy, said: "Reaching the quarter-final is a big feat for us in terms of being quite a small authority. We've got one or two very good individuals and, this year, we have boys from ten of the 11 schools in the area. So, there's a fair spread, and that's one thing that's really pleased me."

Opponents Lothian, made up of a selection of players from a choice of 40 schools compared to West's catchment of 11, required only a draw to win a place in the last eight, and took the lead after 21 minutes.

West Lothian created numerous chances, and equalised at the tail-end of the first half as Scott Cowan forced the ball home from close range.

In the knowledge that they required a win to progress, West moved up another gear in the second half but left it very, very late to claim their win, netting twice within the final few minutes. Facing elimination on goal difference with two minutes to go, West Lothian won a corner, which Whitburn Academy pupil Ryan Kellock dramatically converted.

Lothian chased the crucial equaliser, but West retained their composure and went on to extend their lead in the third minute of injury time. Alloa Athletic youngster Stephen Old refused to give up on what appeared a hopeless cause and was rewarded for his doggedness. A Lothian defender blasted his attempted clearance straight into the Linlithgow Academy forward and the ball ricocheted over the advancing goalkeeper and into the net.

West Lothian now face an quarter-final tie away from home at the end of January, with the opposition yet to be determined.

Meanwhile, in the under-15 competition, West Lothian staged a spirited fightback against East and Midlothian for a 2-2 draw at Murieston United's Bankton Mains ground in Livingston, but it wasn't enough for the hosts. West agonisingly went out by the concession of a single goal more than their opponents, who qualified from the group alongside first-placed Ayrshire.

Were it not for a wonderful goal-line clearance from West's Sean Finnigan and an outstanding performance from Daniel Carr-Pollock in the West Lothian goal, East and Midlothian could have been five ahead in the opening ten minutes.

West were rarely an attacking force thanks to the stranglehold their visitors exerted on the midfield, with Lasswade High's impressive Dylan Clark, who turns out for Capital youth side Edina Hibs, making excellent use of the ball. The home side began the second half more positively, with Broxburn's Matthew Stark hitting the bar. The deadlock was finally broken, but at the other end, in the 56th minute when Sam Rintoul (Musselburgh) ran clear and showed great composure to slot the ball into the net.

It appeared to be game over when some poor home defending allowed the impressive visitors to go 2-0 in front with time rapidly running out.

Late on, Russell Little gave West Lothian some hope before his team mate Michael Gilmour produced a wonder strike to equalise in the final minute of regulation time but East and Midlothian held on for a place in the latter stages.

West Lothian under-15: Daniel Carr-Pollock (St. Margaret's), Ryan McIndoe (Armadale), Duncan Coyle (Bathgate), Sean Finnigan (St. Margaret's), Michael Gilmour (St. Margaret's), Andrew Hutchinson (West Calder), Scott Hutchinson (West Calder), Russell Little (West Calder), Scott Lochrie (Broxburn), Steven Main (Bathgate), Lee Marshall (Armadale), Dean McGowan (St. Kentigern's), Matthew Stark (Broxburn), Mark Wilkie (St. Margaret's).

East and Midlothian under-15: Gareth Fleming (Newbattle), Dean Ballantyne (Musselburgh), Scott Chapman (Musselburgh), Dylan Clark (Lasswade), Calvin Clark (Newbattle), Conor Dalziel (Dunbar), Sean Devine (Newbattle), Mikey Hamilton (Preston Lodge), Sean Lawrence (Musselburgh), Hamish Lawrence (North Berwick), Darren McGraff (Musselburgh), Sam Rintoul (Musselburgh), James Rogers-Jones (Newbattle), Mikey Virerkowsky (Newbattle), Andy Watson (Newbattle)

West Lothian under-18: Stephen McDonald (Broxburn), Liam Airley, (West Calder), Fraser Clarkson (James Young), Simon Doherty, (West Calder), Scott Cowan (St. Margaret's), Scott Hislop (Inveralmond), Ryan Kellock (Whitburn), Alan Lawson (Bathgate), Ryan Meechan (Armadale), James Mildren (Whitburn), Stephen Old (Linlithgow, Keir Stewart (Whitburn), Liam Watt (St. Margaret's), Ryan Williamson (West Calder), Jordan Wright (Linlithgow).

Lothian under-18: Chris Binnie (St. Thomas'), Asher Tufail (St. David's), Ben Stobbart (HolyRood), David Heggie (Craigmount), Grant Mollison (George Heriot's) Fraser Mackinnon (St. David's), Stefan Ross (St. Thomas'), Errol Douglas (Balerno), Ryan Somerville (Newbattle), Calum Liddle (Royal High), Allan Hay (Newbattle), Jamie Clark (Royal High), Aidan Duncan (St. David's), Calum Kerr (HolyRood), Mark McConnell (Tynecastle), Ian Trotter (Knox Academy).