Rampant Hutchie prove too swift for Hillfield in U17 final

Goals in the opening five minutes from Lee Brown and Haydn Crane put the Lothian Buses U17 Division 1 leaders in control before Brown sealed the win after the break. Hutchie coach Gary Brown said: "It was a great team performance. I was impressed with everyone, but our strikers, Lee and Haydn, especially were great."

Brown opened the scoring with barely a minute on the clock as he headed over Swifts keeper Dale Mason, who had left his goal line to try and claim a long high ball. Crane then doubled Hutchie's advantage just a few minutes later as he burst into the penalty area and fired past Mason.

Mid-table Swifts tried to respond from their disastrous opening and a corner from the right fell to Corin Anderson, who struck low from ten yards, but Kerr McLernon's reaction save maintained the two-goal difference. However, Hutchie remained on top for the bulk of the first half. Lewis Grant made a darting run down the right before firing over a teasing delivery, which Mason did well to clutch ahead of Crane. Then Grant exchanged passes with Brown and punted a long ball into the area for Crane who shot over the crossbar.

Brown surged forward before seeing a low strike saved by Mason.

Swifts were much improved after the interval, but struggled to convert their increased share of possession into clear-cut chances and normal service was quickly restored.

The first chance of the half fell to Swifts' Martin Rennie, who failed to connect well with substitute Ryan Campbell's corner and the shot from six yards was saved comfortably by McLernon.

Hutchie stretched their advantage to three when Brown evaded his man on the edge of the area and fired a low shot past Mason from close range.Almost straight from the restart, Hutchie went close again as Crane paced down the right wing and hit a good cross into the box to find Lee Brown, who was unhindered and left visibly disappointed to see his low shot pass wide of the left post.

The pressure continued, with Crane making an impressive run down the right before being fouled, and the resulting free kick gave Darryl McLaren an opportunity.

However, he headed the high ball straight into Mason's arms from close range. Brown then impressed down the right wing, making light work of the Swifts defence before getting himself into a crossing position, but Callum Gilzean couldn't connect well with the resulting ball and the keeper was able to gather comfortably.

Ryan Campbell's opportunism almost provided a lifeline for Swifts but his powerful 30-yard shot passed just over the crossbar.Late in the game, Christopher McCartney's corner reached Brown perfectly, who was waiting on the edge of the area, and his volley rattled the crossbar, before being cleared by the Swifts defence.

Hillfield Swifts coach Jim Wilkinson said: "I'm obviously disappointed. After the two early goals we were always chasing the game.

"I was pleased with the way we played in the second half and I wonder if things could have been different if we were just one goal down rather than two."

Hutchison Vale: Kerr McLernon, Ryan Scott, Bradley Crane, Darryl McLaren, Allan Hay, Lee Brown, Liam Fellenger, Christopher McCartney, Lewis Grant, Christopher Deignon, Haydn Crane. Callum Gilzean, Mark Lawrie, Taylor Aitchison.

Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts: Dale Mason, Christopher Campbell, Euan Munro, Corin Anderson, Martin Rennie, Kristoffer Patrick, Liam McCulloch, Dylan Wilkinson, Calum Reilly, Jack Matson, Sean McGrowther. Michael Westgarth, Matt Miller, Darren Campbell, Ryan Campbell, Reece Rodger.