Finlay’s screamer helps Bonnyrigg to South East Region cup glory

Bonnyrigg Rose and Musselburgh Windsor faced off against each other for the first time this season at a wet New Dundas Park on Sunday. Both sides were keen to get their first taste of silverware this season in the South East Region YFA U15 Div 1 Cup Final.

Unlike most cup finals the opening stages were very entertaining and both teams had good chances. Bonnyrigg hit the woodwork from good build up play down the left wing. However, Windsor had two successive headers from set plays go just wide of the goal minutes later.

It was Rose who took one of their early chances first. Cameron’s busting run from midfield ended in him having a shot. That shot was met by the Bonnyrigg striker Kapis to fool the keeper at the last second and put the side in red in front after 13 minutes.

Cormack in the Musselburgh goal was forced into a really good save on the half hour mark. Walker’s cross met the head of the attack who headed the shot goal bound.

Windsor also had a chance just before half-time as the ball fell nicely for Wynne on the edge of the box, but his effort went wide.

Bonnyrigg looked to start the second half as they started the first. Brunett beat two Windsor defenders with a fake shot, but his eventual shot was saved by Cormack.

The match was levelled on 46 minutes as Musselburgh Windsor equalised. A brilliant looping header beats the goalkeeper as the Windsor captain, Carroll scored to make it 1-1

Ten minutes later, Windsor would be reduced to ten men as one of their attackers was sent off for a second bookable offence.

Bonnyrigg made use of their man advantage on 63 minutes when the ball fell to Cameron on the penalty sport, and he calmly slotted it past Cormack in the Windsor goal.

In the last ten minutes Musselburgh upped the tempo in search of another equaliser to take the game to extra-time. They hit the crossbar and Carroll almost scored an identical goal to the one he scored to make it 1-1 but it was denied by a wonderful save by Gaffney in goal.

In the closing stages, there was a stramash inside the Bonnyrigg box. There were numerous shots at goal however a great goal line clearance denied a leveller.

In the final minute, Bonnyrigg won a free kick on the edge of edge of their half. Finlay Cameron stepped up and astonishingly played a looping ball which beat the goalkeeper to make it 3-1 and secure the cup for Bonnyrigg.

Bonnyrigg Rose Player of the Match: Finlay Cameron

When you score a brace for the winning team in any cup final, you deserve to be player of the match, and this was no different. Not only did he help Rose drive forward from midfield but that free kick in the last minute was spectacular, few players are able to pull something like that off. You will struggle to see a better goal in a cup final this season.

Musselburgh Windsor Player of the Match: Jack Carroll

Although he was on the losing side, he was one of the better players on the pitch. As a captain he showed good leadership, and he helped get his team back in the game with a great looping header. Carroll also showed his versatility by dropping into midfield when Windsor went down to 10 men.