Clark Drive secure Scottish Cup glory

 Clark Drive 15s

 vs

Competition: 15s SYFA Challenge Cup

Venue: Excelsior Stadium, Airdrie

Date:  08/05/11

Author: Robert McCracken

The Under 15’s Scottish Youth Football Association Challenge Cup was decked in blue and white as Clark Drive emerged 3-1 winners against a strong Edina Hibs side at the Excelsior Stadium in Airdrie.

A brace from Ross Stewart and an effort from Lawrence McMahon sealed it for Clark Drive despite a wonderful solo effort from Edina’s Dylan Clark.

After only 3 minutes Edina Hibs had tested Douglas Bowie in the Clark Drive goal. Edina’s Jordan Brown shooting from 25 yards forcing Bowie to make the first save of the match.

Edina continued on the offensive and some wonderful link up play had Clark Drive on the backfoot. A good recovery from centre half Jordan Greenlees saw him shrug Edina’s Jordan Brown off the ball and out for a corner. From the corner another chance for the Edinburgh side was produced, this time it was captain Jed Davie who rose and headed over the bar.

Still with less than 10 minutes on the clock another good chance was produced by Edina Hibs. A wonderful ball from the left hand side again found Jordan Brown in the Clark Drive area; the number 9 was in the 6 yard area and headed into Douglas Bowie’s hands.

Having been on the back-foot Clark Drive launched a counter attack. A good through ball from midfielder Ross Stewart, Lawrence McMahon couldn’t reach the ball and it was gathered up by Daniel Kerr in the Edina goal.

Edina were on top of the game and were controlling the play in all areas of the pitch, Azad Okan marauding down the left swung a cross into the front post, Fraser Eddington squeezed a header on target forcing Bowie into yet another save.

Ross Stewart in the Clark Drive midfield was their stand out in the first half, his industry and vision almost paid off when his drive from 20 yards went close to breaking the deadlock.

Edina again broke through the Clark Drive defence just before half time a wonderful penetrating pass from Dylan Clark, with the Clark Drive defence back-tracking it was down to Douglas Bowie to save his side again, his quick thinking to break from his line and intercept saved a certain goal.

Just before half time Clark Drive were presented with another chance and again it fell to Ross Stewart. He received the pass from Dean Fulton and with only the ‘keeper to beat was foiled by a wonderful save.

Half Time: Clark Drive 15’s 0-0 Edina Hibs 15’s
 

Edina Hibs started as they had in the first half; first Jordan Brown forcing a save then the tireless Dylan Clark got his shot on target from 25 yards but on both occasions Douglas Bowie was more than up to the task of gathering the ball.

Five minutes into the half the deadlock was broken. Clark Drive’s Ross Stewart found himself in behind the Edina defence and he slotted home, coolly under the goalkeeper. There’s no doubting the goal came against the run of play but credit to Stewart who finished superbly.

Clark Drive came into their own, boosted by the confidence of the goal they stepped up their game.

Things went for bad to worse for Edina Hibs when Clark Drive were awarded a penalty. Marcus Campanile dragged down Cammy Burns in the box and there was no doubting the penalty award.

It was Ross Stewart who stepped up and confidently struck the ball low and hard past Kerr in the Edina goal with a perfect penalty. Clark Drive celebrated their second and Stewart celebrated bagging a cup-final brace.

Edina failed to let their heads drop and they answered back almost immediately. Dylan Clark burst forward and side stepped two opponents as he skipped into the box, taking a touch to compose himself Dylan Clark fired across the face of goal, his shot beat the ‘keeper and bounced off the far post before going in.

Edina were good value for their goal and Dylan Clark, whose raw pace and skill had troubled Clark Drive all day continued to cause problems. Another wonderful run by Clark saw him leaving several defenders in his wake this time he released Fraser Ediington in the Clark Drive box, with the chance to level for Edina Eddington unleashed a left foot drive which lashed into the side netting.

With only a few minutes remaining on the clock it was Clark Drive who struck again. With Edina firmly camped out in the Clark Drive half the Ayrshire side caught them on the counter. Josh Still went on a marauding run down the right, shrugging of two Edina challenges before pulling the ball back to Lawrence McMahon.  McMahon deftly struck the ball from 12 yards over Daniel Kerr in the Edina goal to make it 3-1 to Clark Drive.

Edina failed to let their heads drop and continued to attack the Clark Drive goal although it was to no avail and after a whopping six minutes injury time, added for an injury to Clark Drive’s Ryan Docherty, the whistle blew and Clark Drive were the winners of the Under 15’s SYFA Challenge Cup.

Full Time: Clark Drive 15s 3-1 Edina Hibs 15s

19.  Douglas Bowie
2.  Ryan Docherty
3.  Craig Gemmell (c)
4.  Jordan Greenlees
7.  Ross Stewart
10.  Lawrence McMahon
11.  Mark Brown
12. Dean Fulton
14. Cameron Burns
18. Ben Wilson
20. Jamie Wyllie

6. Alasdair Heath
8. Josh Still
9. Josh Pirie
17. Alan Irving
1. Taylor Thompson

YFS Man of the Match: Ross Stewart

YFS Man of the Match: Dylan Clark

Referee:  K. Fordyce