Triumphant Dunbar earn their stripes with cup final late show

Manager David Darling highlighted his Dunbar United Colts side's perseverance as they came through in extra-time to defeat Eskmill in the final of the South East Region Under-13 Tom Welsh Cup at Penicuik Park.

Darling said: "We played them last week and it was very tough. We came through late in the game then and we have done it again today. I thought it was a very good game."

The game started in explosive fashion as Jamie Chapman cracked the Eskmill bar after a curling free-kick on the edge of the box.

At the other end, Harry Bowles fired an effort of his own from 20 yards which was held comfortably by Byron Gibb in the Eskmill goal.

The first goal was to come soon after when Ross Aitken turned and fired in a strike from the edge of the box which nestled in the left-hand corner of the net to hand Eskmill the lead.

As quickly as the deadlock was broken, however, Dunbar got themselves back on level terms.

Conal Prior flicked a header on to Bowles, who controlled and fired a 20-yard strike high into the net to square the game at 1-1.

After the break, United almost took the lead when Andrew Taylor broke down the left and fired in a hard shot which was palmed away by the impressive Gibb.

Eskmill could have been ahead again when William Smith had an effort of his own with the outside of the right, but goalkeeper David Imrie was equal to the task.

The final chance of regular time fell to Ross Hewitt when he raced down the right-hand side and had only the keeper to beat. The forward unleashed a powerful shot which was saved expertly by Imrie to keep the scores level as the final whistle blew.

Into extra-time, the first real chance fell to Prior, who controlled within the box and unleashed a terrific half-volley which swerved just wide of Gibb's net.

Next to test Gibb was Taylor, who fired in a hard shot which looked to be heading for the top corner until the keeper kept his team in the game once again with a tremendous save to deny what looked like a certain goal.

However, Dunbar did get the winner they were pressing for five minutes before the end of extra-time.

Ewan Stark found some space in the Eskmill box and slammed home a terrific strike into Gibb's bottom-right corner and hand the Tom Welsh Cup to Dunbar.

Eskmill secretary Jason Hewitt commended his players for their efforts and felt his side were battling with a number of injuries in extra-time.

He said: "I thought we battled hard and just ran out of steam at the end. We had a few injuries as well towards the end and I think that played a major factor."

Darling also felt the tie was a tremendous advert for youth football between two evenly-matched sides.

He said: "It's been fabulous. It was two great teams competing today with not a lot between them."

Dunbar United Colts: David Imrie, Harry Bowles, Rory Pilbeam, Jack Armstrong, Ewan Stark, Conal Prior, Jamie Chapman, David Darling, Ryan Young, Andrew Taylor, Kyle Binning, James Forrest, Liam Browne, Tyler Robinson, Dylan Gillies, Stuart Allan.

Eskmill: Byron Gibb, James Hulligan, Cameron McGrath, Cameron Slater, William Smith, Callum Mackenzie, Ben Gracie, Ross Aitken, Ross Hewitt, Euan Chalmers, Pablo Suarez, Josiah Swan, Andrew Foley, Aaron Hodge, Jordan Quinn, Martin Pritchard.

n The lucky programme numbers for the SPORTSassist South East Region Cup Finals weekend at Hallhill, Dunbar, were: first prize (100) No.71; second prize (50) No.297. Winners should contact Allan Archibald on 0131-334 0135.