Vics go the extra mile to land FA Blaikie Cup

Two goals from David Turnbull and a strike by Jamie Spence won the trophy for the east Edinburgh side after Jamie Adamson had given Bo'ness a second-half lead.

Newcraighall alarmed their opponents by twice hitting the woodwork early on in a game played in severe weather conditions. The of those came 20 minutes in, when Vics' Paul Armstrong saw a volley come crashing off back off the post.

Then soon after Ross Alexander played the ball down the left wing to Turnbull, who cut in onto his right only to have a shot blocked for a corner, which was swung out to the edge of the box where Armstrong smashed against the post.

With Vics creating the majority of the first-half chances it was Bo'ness who were next to going close to taking the lead but for a great save by Vics goalkeeper Graham O'Brien at the feet of Alan Bow. Bow, who started the move himself, played a delightful ball over to Jamie Adamson who pressed on down the wing and crossed into the path of Bow, who had continued his run, only for O'Brien to smother at the edge of the box, resulting in the score being goalless at half time.

The second half continued in much the same vein as the first, with neither team looking like taking the lead as much of the play passed through the midfield.

However, that all changed on the hour mark as Adamson outran the Vics defence to slot the ball past the on-rushing O'Brien. It was a culmination of a slick two-pass move started on the edge of the Bo'ness penalty area, as goalkeeper Maurice Crooks rolled the ball out to right-back Steven Ireland whose cross field diagonal pass found Adamson, who calmly controlled before slotting the ball home.

That lead only lasted five minutes, though, as Turnbull fired his side level from two yards out. Dailly picked the ball up down the right-hand side and fired in a hopeful ball into the box that caught out everyone except Turnbull, who stabbed into the roof of the net from two yards out.

The last chance of normal time should have wrapped up the game and handed the trophy to Vics but Jamie Spence mistimed his strike. Armstrong collected the ball half-way into the Bo'ness half and swung in a delightful ball to Spence at the far post only for the striker to fluff his shot, sending the ball well wide of the mark and ensuring the game went into extra time. As the blustery conditions continued to hamper the usual passing game of both teams, it looked like the game was heading for penalties as neither team could create any chances during the first period of extra time.

However just before half time in extra time, Vics created the only chance of the half and took the lead as Jamie Spence fired into the roof of the net. The goal came after some fantastic play by Turnbull down the right before crossing for Spence to spin onto his left foot before smashing the ball home.

Vics secured their victory minutes after the break with Spence and Turnbull exchanging roles to give the striker his second goal of the game.

Spence took up a position on the left and tore at the Bo'ness defence before crossing straight to Turnbull on the six-yard line. His first shot was expertly saved by keeper Crooks but luckily the rebound fell to the striker to fire into the net. Kevin Miller, the Vics coach, was pleased to see the team bounce back and win the trophy after the disappointment at losing last week's Challenge Cup final against Edinburgh University.

He said: "After a long hard season the players deserved to win a trophy.

"Last week was difficult to take so it was great to see the players bounce back and win this cup.

"It was a typical final with both teams not wanting to make a mistake but overall I think we played the better game and luckily came out on top."

Newcraighall Leith Vics: Graham O'Brien, Paul Armstrong, Paul Waugh, Ross Alexander, Kevin Smith, Grant Dick, Kevin Wood, Andrew Dailly, David Turnbull, Evan Watson, Jamie Spence, Stuart McLaughlin, Steven McCulloch, Mark Burns, Steven Igoe, David Milne.

Bo'ness: Maurice Crooks, Jamie Williamson, Alan Hemphill, Alan Davidson, David Lapsley, Steven Ireland, James Irvine, Ross Mclean, Jamie Winning, Alan Bow, Jamie Adamson, Steven McClean, Aaron Ballentine, Jason Weir, Craig Devine, Graham Cox.