Star shine through the gloom with cup success

"A great end to the season in which a lot has happened at the club. The gloom surrounding relegation has at least been lifted temporarily. This win gives us a boost ahead of next season," was how boss Alan Miller saw it.

There was a big travelling support from both sides for this game at neutral Kelty and they weren't disappointed with the football. Newtongrange started brightly and created a few chances in the opening minutes. North End though, on the back of a super G & A cup win over Broughty last week, proved just as lively as the first half wore on.

However it was Newtongrange who opened the scoring with a super goal in the 14th minute. North End keeper Mark Fotheringham who up till then had kept them at bay with a string of super saves, was beaten by a shot from Joe Dunbar which curled its way into the top corner. Fotheringham was proving to be the key player in the North End side. He turned on a man of the match performance which belied his physique. It was no surprise though when Newtongrange added to their tally ten minutes before the break. From a Stuart Roseburgh corner, Scott McCulloch rose to power a header downwards. Fotheringham blocked it but only as far as McCulloch again and he slammed the ball first time low into the corner of the net with the keeper helpless.

Newtongrange looked comfortable in the first half but, North End had to come out looking for a foothold in the game. They didn't get one. Newtongrange swept forward at every opportunity and only that man Fotheringham kept the score down. First McCulloch then Dunbar had super chances to put the game to bed but Fotheringham was outstanding.

Star's Gary Cherrie then had the best chance of the second 45 minutes to add to their total but didn't make the keeper work by blasting wide. North End did have spells when they should have scored but Newtongrange keeper Gary O'Connor wasn't troubled enough.

So it was that Newtongrange captain Gareth Hutchison stepped up to collect the second biggest trophy in Junior football, the East of Scotland Cup. To collect the trophy in what has been a dreadful season in the League restores a lot of pride to a side which always tries to play good attacking football.

New boss Alan Miller sees a lot of positives in the side, "The lads have been tremendous since I came here. They've responded happily with everything we've asked them to do and it's a happy camp. We have super players in the squad and we're looking to add to them. The best clubs have the best players and we're hoping to be the same. There is a lot of work to be done but myself and the coaches will be working hard to get more of the same players in. Relegation was a huge disappointment for the players but I hope this result gives us a determination to bounce straight back up."

Dunbar, scorer of the vital opening goal, is one of that happy camp, "There's a definite buzz back around us now. The gaffer has been great with us. He gives us confidence to go out there and get the job done," he said. "Since he came here we've stepped up a gear and to win was a great end to the season. The opening goal wasn't something I had planned; a goal from the foot I usually only use for standing on. But the ball came back to me from the keeper and I just turned and curled it past him. It wasn't planned for the top corner but the way he was playing it had to be in the right spot and it was. Now we can plan ahead for next season. Most of us have signed up and can't wait for pre season."

Newtongrange Star: O'Connor, Brown, Thomson, Woodburn, McNicol, Hutchison, Dunbar( Swaney), Cherrie, McCulloch, McKenna(Sommerville), Roseburgh. Subs: Carnie.

North End: Fotheringham, Browne, McCulley, Henry(Nicol), Gowans, Percy, Glennie, Grier( Small), McCumisky, Flynn(Kelly), Hoy. Subs: Valentine, Saffar, Duncan, Brough.

Elsewhere, in the last game of the Premier League, Penicuik lost 3-0 at home to Armadale in a typical end-of-season game.