YFS
Clydebank are the new holders of the Scottish Youth FA Cup after defeating Airdrie United in a hotly-contested game on a beautifully sunny Sunday afternoon at Airdrie's Excelsior Stadium.
The match was one of the most highly anticipated finals of the year, with two teams that know a thing or two about the competition. Airdrie United lost out to St Peters on penalties in last year's final at Under 17 level, and have challenged in a number of other seasons at the 1999 age group. Clydebank originally entered the competition as Milngavie Wanderers and season after season seemed to go close, but never quite make it to the showpiece final.
Clydebank got proceedings under way by kicking off, but the first chance of the game fell to Airdrie United after just two minutes. Kieran Devine collected the ball in the Clydebank box with his back to goal, before sliding a pass back to Andrew Kennedy who scooped his shot wide of the target.
United continued to dominate for the opening 15 minutes and looked more likely to score, until Clydebank's William Fleming outstripped the Airdrie defence and was brought down by goalkeeper Tony Sharkey, which resulted in a penalty.
The keeper received a yellow card for the foul while Fleming stepped up for the penalty. The striker rifled a low hard shot with his left foot into the centre of the goal. Sharkey managed to get a foot to the ball, but it was not enough to stop the ball crossing the line.
Airdrie almost had the perfect response just three minutes later when Devine cut in from the right wing and fired at goal, but Bankies goalie Thomas McGuire pulled off an excellent save to deny him.
Soon after Fleming had a chance to double his tally after Clydebank's Sean Smith cut in from the left hand side and squared the ball to his team-mate, but Fleming could only poke the ball over the bar.
The Bankies then came within inches of doubling their lead following a set-piece. Fleming won a free kick just outside the box on the right hand side and curled in a delightful cross that Smith knocked onto the post with a glancing header.
Clydebank pushed hard to grab a second goal before the half-time whistle and came close once again after Smith undid the Airdrie United defence. The forward sprinted into the box from the left wing and fired a shot at goal, where Sharkey denied him with an excellent save.