Edina Hibs came out on top to clinch the Stewart Brien Cup in a pulsating game that you could not take your eyes off. Some great goals, a fair amount of controversy and, above all, a great game of youth football helped to make it a final that would live long in the memory for all those in attendance.

Straight from kick off, Hutchison Vale showed their attacking intent and applied pressure to the opposition, which resulted in a goal within the first five minutes of the game. They kept hold of the ball well, passing it from side to side patiently before capitalising on an opportunity. The ball was passed into the edge of the box, and the onrushing Blair Houston calmly placed a shot beyond the keeper, who could do nothing to prevent it. The Hutchison Vale fans went wild in the crowd, understandably so, but it was short lived.

Minutes later, Edina Hibs grabbed an equaliser. After winning a free kick just beyond the halfway line, the initial cross into the box was half cleared. Sean Hogg pounced onto this loose ball and squared the ball across the face of goal, for Brandon McLaren to hammer in from close range.

The following 20 minutes was an attacking masterclass from Hutchison Vale though, motivated by losing their lead so easily. They dominated the game and cut swathes across the pitch, but crucially Edina Hibs managed to only concede one goal during this patch.

First of all, James Gordon was fouled on the edge of the box after a smart run had put the defence under pressure. The resulting free kick from Rory Hamilton was curled over the wall and looked to be nestling in the top right corner but it was denied by a brilliant sprawling save from Robbie Wilson in the Edina Hibs goal. The resulting corner, with a strong wind blowing towards the Edina Hibs goal in the first half, almost curled directly in before Hamilton again saved.

Hutchison Vale did eventually take the lead, although Edina Hibs would have been disappointed with the nature of the goal. A long ball downfield, which a defender looked to head back to his keeper, was intercepted by Cameron Fraser for Hutchison Vale, who let the ball bounce once before firing a right footed half-volley beyond the keeper.

They did not let up after scoring this goal however, with Justin Akugbo orchestrating some lovely one-touch passing maneuvers that really tested the Edina Hibs defence. Not only was the slick passing a danger, but Fraser was a huge threat during this period, always looking to run in behind the defence and pick up any loose passes, like he did in the 23rd minute. Winning the ball back from a defender in a dangerous position, he squared the ball to James Gordon whose shot was well saved by the keeper.

Throughout the first half, Edina Hibs' best chances seemed to all come from set pieces. Just before half time they came within inches of an equaliser. This time a corner was floated in from the right hand side, with William Scott rising high above the static defence to head the ball into the top corner only for Jonny Gordon to save well.

So the first half came to an end, with Hutchison Vale dominating proceedings but failing to establish more than a one goal lead.

The story of the second half was a much more even one. From the kick off, Edina Hibs seemed much more determined, closing down much more effectively and running directly at the opposition defence, causing no end of trouble for them.

However, this new attacking mindset left gaps behind for Hutchison Vale to counter attack into. In the 43rd minute, they hit them on the break with Tom Davies beating to defenders and advancing into the box. With the target clearly in sight he was denied by a heroic last ditch tackle from Sol Kenny. A match-saving tackle that was just as important as scoring at the other end, and minutes later Edina Hibs found the equaliser.

With a much higher defensive line, Edina Hibs really put the pressure on Hutchison Vale and it paid off. From an opposition throw-in, the ball was half cleared and somehow made its away across the edge of the box. William Scott, in the right place, curled a left footed shot beyond the outstretched hand of the keeper. A great equaliser and reward for some sustained pressure, the game looked finely poised at this point, a much more even affair than the previous half.

With the wind on their back, Edina Hibs used the long-ball technique intelligently and let the elements carry the ball beyond the Hutchison Vale defence on several occasions. One such long ball bounced beyond the defence and left Scott one-on-one with the Gordon, only for him to shoot narrowly wide from the clear-cut chance.

With gaps opening up all over the pitch, Hutchison Vale defender Rory Hamilton set off on a barnstorming run from the back after winning the ball back. He beat two defenders and made his way from one end of the pitch to the other but his final ball in was just cut out by the defence.

Moving into the last 15 minutes of the game, the tension began to ramp up inside the ground. 

That is, until Daniel Duncan lined up a free kick about 35 yards out from the Hutchison Vale goal. With the wind still on their side, the Edina Hibs player ambitiously shot directly at goal. The free kick was a missile, hurtling in above the Hutchison Vale keeper, setting the fans into a frenzy. It was a fantastic goal, worthy of winning any game. But the action was not over yet, and the last 10 minutes proved to be even more exciting.

This goal looked to rattle Hutchison Vale, but they managed to find an equaliser in the last five minutes of the game. A long ball over the Edina Hibs defence left James Gordon with a great opportunity one-on-one with the opposition keeper. The ball bounced up, and Gordon just managed to get a touch and flick it beyond the onrushing keeper and into the back of the net. Gordon showed great bravery here, colliding with the goalkeeper after touching it by him, no doubt earning a few bruises for his cause.

Heading into the conclusion of the game, finely poised at 3-0, you’d be forgiven for thinking that each team would settle and wait for extra time. Edina Hibs however had other ideas, playing the ball behind the defence again which left their forward closing down the opposition keeper, whose rushed clearance hit off the attacker and luckily bounced out for a goal kick.

Into injury time, and the match descended into scenes that neutrals would have enjoyed, but which tested the emotions of either sets of fans and players.

A corner from Edina Hibs was curled into the box, and with the wind behind it almost flew in over the line itself, until Gordon just managed to palm the ball clear. The resulting action was a chaotic goal mouth scramble with the ball on the line and players from either side hacking the ball in every direction possible while the keeper attempted to claim it on the deck and prevent the goal.

The referee blew his whistle and consulted with his linesman on the far side as everyone in the ground looked on in suspense. Hutchison Vale claiming the keeper had got two hands on the ball and prevented it from crossing the line, Edina Hibs arguing that the ball had crossed and a winning goal had been scored. The referee returned and gave the goal! The linesman confirmed that William Scott had just managed to poke it over the line before the keeper grabbed the ball. A winning goal in controversial circumstances, obviously Hutchison Vale were disappointed with the decision, but the referee upheld his decision.

They kicked off, but it was too little too late for them and the referee blew the full time whistle. Cue wild celebrations from the Edina Hibs players and fans and bitter disappointment from Hutchison Vale.

A fantastic final that was hugely entertaining from the first minute to the last. Hutchison Vale were unlucky to lose so late in the game, but cliche aside, Edina Hibs played to the final whistle and came away as winners.