Second-half charge gives Cavalry the Cruden Bowl

Cavalry Park produced a resounding second-half performance to snatch the South East Region under-19 Cruden Bowl Cup, defeating Edinburgh City Colts 3-1 at New Dundas Park in conditions which made football almost impossible.

The weather resembled a stormy night in December, with battering winds and driving rain the sternest opposition for both sets of players. But it was Cavalry Park who ultimately prevailed, coming from a goal down at half-time to achieve their first of a potential three pieces of silverware this term.

Cavalry Park manager Kevin Douglas was quick to compliment both teams on what proved a very difficult environment for football. "The weather conditions were absolutely atrocious with the wind making it very difficult for the players so both teams deserve a lot of credit. We were certainly helped in the second half (by the wind] but I think we deserved it overall. We have another two cup finals to look forward to so this gives us a huge boost."

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Given the unforgiving climate, it was a blessing that the turf was in immaculate condition and Edinburgh City Colts in particular took advantage of the surface to great effect. Striker Christopher Graham's neat touches and speed had the Cavalry Park defence on the back foot from the start.

Graham's trickery down the right wing presented Matthew Gaunt with an opportunity to put his name on the score sheet. His attempts to curl the ball around the defender proved ineffective but Graham was quick to respond to the rebound and unleashed a piercing left footed drive which had Andrew Mackay stretching to tip over the bar.

It was left to the first half's most productive player, Graham, to open the scoring shortly before the interval. Scott Hume was unnecessarily fouled just outside the left hand side of Cavalry's box, and from the resulting free-kick Graham majestically manoeuvred the ball over the wall and high into the net.

If Graham had eclipsed the performances of his fellow players in the first half, he and his Colts team-mates were met by an opposition determined to do better in the second.

Cavalry provided relentless attacks in pursuit of overturning a 1-0 deficit and were rewarded when they were back on level terms 15 minutes into the second half. Cavalry's Greg Douglas showed a tower of strength to rise above a packed penalty box and divert the ball past City goalkeeper Blake Anderson after an enticing cross from Steven MacGregor on the far left side.

Colts were struggling to clear the ball out of their own half and it came as no surprise when Cavalry Park edged in front.

A ball over the top was deflected into the path of striker Kris McLoughlin who was quick to respond with a low driven strike on goal. With Anderson standing his ground to block, the goalkeeper was unfortunate to parry the shot back to the striker who had the simplest of tasks of heading the ball into the empty net.

Stewart Adams saved the best for last to wrap up victory for Cavalry on a windswept evening. The talented winger, who had looked menacing throughout the match, showed superb accuracy to sweep a 25-yard strike into the far corner which had Anderson clutching at thin air.

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Edinburgh City Colts: Blake Anderson, Darren Pennycuick, Scott Hume, Andrew Husband, Ryan Lamb, Matthew Gaunt, John Thom, Nicky O'Donnell, Scott McLeod, Christopher Graham, Liam O'Donnell, Calum Burns, Justin Thompson, Adam Hill, Sam Donald.

Cavalry Park: Andrew Mackay, Chris Joyce, Lloyd Robertson, Jack McIntosh, Greg Douglas, Christopher Barron, Stewart Adams, Sean Guiney, Kris McLoughlin, Steven MacGregor, Michael Park, Fraser McKinlay, Ross Bunyan, Johnny Malcolm, Lyle Finney, Alan Andrews.