Under-15s see off Edinburgh City on penalties in final

Spartans COLTS won the South East Region under-15 Division 2 League Cup by beating Edinburgh City Colts 6-5 on penalties after the two sides played out a 3-3 draw at Saughton Enclosure.

Spartans thought they had won in extra time when right back Innes Burns fired home a thunderous right foot volley from the edge of the box, but City levelled seconds from the final whistle to take the game to a shoot out.

Spartans' first penetrating move deserved a goal, as Richard Tait controlled a long pass before electing to take on the Edinburgh defence, skipping past two defenders before playing a sharp one-two with Tony Hepburn. His subsequent cross was inch perfect for the diving head of Jordan Andrews, but his effort went just over the bar. Moments later, City went a goal up thanks to some superb play by their front two, Peter Connolly and Ryan Borland. Mathew Davidson chipped the ball over the Spartans defence for Connolly to head into the path of Borland. As the keeper came rushing towards him, Borland delightfully lobbed the ball over him and ran on to tap in from two yards out.

Five minutes before half time, Spartans caught out the Edinburgh defence to score the equaliser. Hepburn again attacked before chipping in a delightful ball for Ritchie Cleetan to tap in from four yards out.

The second half was a continuation of the first with both teams cancelling each other out. As City attacked, Spartans went ahead thanks to a great header from Sean Miller. Tait picked the ball up on the half way line and with a turn of speed was away from the City defence. His cross was met by Miller, who, from eight yards out, glanced a header into the top corner of the net. City started to turn up the heat and right at the death Connolly was rewarded for his persistent play. McKenzie flew down the right wing and crossed to Connolly, whose first-time shot was saved brilliantly by the feet of Paton - only for the ball to rebound for the striker to tap in and send the tie into extra time.

The game became stretched and half way through the first period of extra time the goal of the game arrived. Hepburn's corner was headed out to the edge of the area and Burns, normally accustomed to a defensive domain, was perfectly poised to volley a 20-yard effort into the far bottom corner. City rallied, though, and salvaged an equaliser in the dying seconds of extra time. McKay swung a free kick into the box for Aitken to head straight at the keeper, who spilled it for Connolly to toe poke in and take the game to penalties.

After both teams netted their first five penalties, the shootout entered sudden death. Spartans' Mathew Davitt gave his side the lead, then his team mate and goalkeeper Paton saved expertly from Raymond Gerrard to win his side the trophy.

Spartans coach Terry Burns said: "Cup final nerves made our passing game inconsistent but perhaps that was expected. I was also happy to see my son, Innes, score a goal worthy of winning the cup especially since he doesn't score that many. It is also great for the boys, who have been with the club for seven years, developing their skills as a team."

City coach Jimmy McDonaghue said. "It was an evenly balanced game and a draw was a fair result," he said. "Penalties are a cruel way to lose a cup but someone has to come away without the trophy."

Spartans Colts: Callum Paton, Innes Burns, Mathew Davitt, Stewart MacMillan, Brandon McFarlane, Robert Bough, Mason Stade, Sean Miller, Jordan Andrews, Tony Hepburn, Richard Tait, Louis McKinley, Jamie Holmes, Ritchie Cleetan.

Edinburgh City: Ben McGinlay, Jack McVey, Blair Lumsden, Robert McKegney, Grant Aitken, Darren Clifford, Oliver Johnstone, Liam McKay, Scott Johnston, David McKenzie, Peter Connolly, Andrew Proudfoot, Mathew Davidson, Raymond Gerrard, Ryan Borland.