Scottish Shield exit for James Young HS teens

Mar 24 2011 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

JAMES YOUNG High School’s under-13 Scottish Shield adventure came to an end this week after the West Lothian side went out narrowly going down in a five-goal thriller which was packed with thrills, spills, two-spot-kicks and unfortunately two late injuries for the home side.

The Livingston schoolboys have been on a remarkable journey in the national competition this season.

However, they came unstuck on their own patch against their visitors from the other side of the M8.

Bearsden took the lead after neat inter-play between their two danger men Aidan Quinn and Adam Martin.

The front pairing were the two star turns for Bearsden and remained a constant thorn in the side of the James Young defence.

It was the smaller of the duo, Martin, who opened the scoring for his side after latching onto a pass from his team mate to lash the ball home.

The home side were playing a dangerous offside tactic with a high back-line against their pacey visitors but it seemed to be working as they received the benefit of a few decisions from the referee.

And they drew level when Jacob Sheldon’s lobbed effort floated over keeper Michael Tolland and dropped into the net to level the tie.

However, their joy proved to be shortlived as Bearsden were handed the chance to restore their lead from the spot after being awarded, by onlookers, as a soft penalty decision.

None-the-less Quinn took the resulting spot-kick and smashed it home to give Bearsden a half-time advantage.

After the break, Aaron Anderson had two chances to find an equaliser for the hosts but he missed both — his second chance being the easier of the two but he fired over the top from close range when it seemed certain he would score.

The home support, which was ever increasing as the pupils from the school finished their lessons for the day, didn’t have to wait long for a leveller though as they were handed a penalty of their own.

Jamie White took on the responsibility for his side and thundered a ferocious drive into the net to haul the hosts level again.

Once again it was a goal they weren’t allowed to celebrate for long as Bearsden hit back quickly to take the lead for the third time in the topsy-turvy encounter.

This time the goal hero was Quinn who netted a stunning solo goal which was good enough to win any game.

The number nine picked the ball up in his own half before embarking on a slaloming, weaving run beyond and in between a stack of James Young players before cutting in from the right to blast a tremendous shot past the helpless Luke Williams.

Sadly, for the home side, Stewart Melton had to be taken off injured shortly afterwards and he was quickly followed onto the injured list by keeper Williams who backpedaled to try and stop a Martin lob finding the net.

He did reach the ball but unfortunately his momentum carried him backwards into the net with the ball in his hands where he fell on to part of the metal goal posts.

The game was held up while Williams received treatment before whistler John Kirkwood chalked off the goal and gave a dropped ball that was cleared.

Bearsden almost added a fourth goal in the final moments but Martin’s low drive cannoned back off the post.

James Young: Luke Williams, Callum Scott, Jacob Sheldon, Cameron Grill, Stewart Melton, Taylor Lanni, Calum Dunn, Scott Hay, Jamie White, Aaron Anderson, Dominic Foulkes, Rhys Lochend, Fraser Birch, Kieran Armstrong, Sean Strachan, Neil Atkinson.