Hutchison Vale U17s pip Corstophine Dynamo to lift Colin Campbell Sports Cup

Hutchison Vale lifted the U17s Colin Campbell Sports Cup thanks to a 3-1 final victory over fellow SERYFA Division 1 side Corstorphine Dynamo at Saughton Enclosure on Friday.

Hutchie took the lead around the half hour mark through Max Lovie but were instantly pegged back when Dynamo replied moments later, thanks to a Ryan Mackay strike.

Joshua Power and Max Mackay then scored a quickfire double in the second half to put Hutchie in the driving seat and ultimately bring home the silverware.

Dynamo pushed hard to claw their way back into the game but just could not quite break down Hutchie’s rigid defence in what was an evenly contested encounter.

This game had all the makings of an excellent cup final – both teams level on points in the league, both teams reaching the showpiece event on the back of comprehensive semi-final victories, and a Friday night slot in front of a 150-strong crowd at the Enclosure. However, the opening exchanges perhaps didn’t live up to hype.

Typical of any cup final, both teams set out to make their mark in the midfield battle from the get-go. Heavy challenges were flying in from all angles as neither team quite managed to get the ball down and play with any rhythm. Long through balls were continually getting pinged up to each team’s strikers but both defences were equal to it.

The first real opportunity fell to Jamie Hook of Corstorphine who found himself in between Hutchie keeper Logan Lovell and the backtracking defender but his control of the long ball took him just too wide to finish.

Hutchison Vale then opened the scoring on 29 minutes when Lovie smashed home the rebound into the top corner from 12 yards following Max Mackay’s half volley being parried by Dynamo keeper Daniel Kelly.

They say a team is at their most vulnerable immediately after scoring and that proved to be the case when Corstorphine Dynamo replied two minutes later. Hook found himself inside the box and dragged in Lovell before playing a squared pass to the onrushing Ryan Mackay who had the simple task of slotting home from close range.

You’d think after two quickfire goals the floodgates would open…but no. The game reverted back to how it began with long balls aplenty and both defences standing tall to thwart any clear-cut goalmouth opportunities. Lovie did, however, manage to flash in a low cross which just evaded the run of Rory Jack and Hook’s pace down the right caused Hutchie left back Daniel Marshall a couple of issues – but it was honours even at the break.

If the first half was characterised by long through balls, then the second was characterised by some excellent last-ditch defending and goalkeeping. As the game began to open up, more chances arose for each side, with Hook going close for Dynamo and Max Mackay unable to beat Kelly on a few occasions.

However, just because more chances were being created, that didn’t signal an end to the hefty challenges. A crunching tackle from the Dynamo midfielder on the touchline led to a wee stooshie and the first yellow card of the game being administered by the referee.

Around the 70th minute mark was where the game was won and lost. Power was on the end of a well-worked Hutchie move and managed to slot home beneath the keeper from just inside the left side of the box to restore his side’s lead, and literally seconds later it was 3-1. Max Mackay picked up a through ball down the right and calmly fired past the onrushing Kelly before running off to celebrate with the fans.

The scoreline perhaps flattered Hutchie as Corstorphine had battled hard and forced Lovell into some good saves. An array of substitutions were made in one last throw of the dice by the Dynamo coaches but their side just could not breakdown the Hutchie defence which stood tall and reduced them to very few, if any, clear cut chances in the latter stages.

A last minute Corstorphine shot following a corner sailed over the bar which epitomised their second half. On another day they could’ve converted a few more chances but it just wasn’t to be, meaning Hutchison Vale U17s were crowned Colin Campbell Sports Cup winners for 2022/23.

Hutchison Vale Player of the Match: Max Mackay

The striker was always in the midst of the action either setting up his teammates or getting a shot away himself – and he managed to bag himself a cup final goal to boot.

Corstorphine Dynamo Player of the Match: Jamie Hook

Dynamo’s number nine used his pace to great effect, especially down the right-hand side, and could have gotten his name on the scoresheet on another day.

Hutchison Vale Magic Moment:

Joshua Power’s well-taken goal to make it 2-1 in the second half restored his side’s lead and set them on their way to lifting the trophy.

Corstorphine Dynamo Magic Moment:

Ryan Mackay’s first half equaliser came at a difficult time immediately after Hutchie took the lead but proved that the Dynamo players don’t let their heads drop in the face of adversity.