Tower AFC seal Scottish Cup win

May 12 2011 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

Scottish Amateur Sunday Trophy

TOWER AFC reached the peak of the amateur footballing mountain for the first time in 16 years after edging a nailbiting Scottish Cup final against east coast rivals LBC.

The Livingston amateurs won the biggest prize for the second time in their history with a spirited display at the home of Second Division champs Livingston FC thanks to goals from Frazer Roy and Sam Walker.

Tower’s stunning triumph was just rewards for their march to the final which saw them dump much-fancied Glasgow pair Gantry and Castlemilk on their way to the showpiece final.

If they had any nerves about being 90 minutes away from getting their hands on the prestigious prize they didn’t show it as they flew out of the traps and kept LBC hemmed in their half for long spells.

They were in complete control and they turned their dominance into a goal on 15-minutes when Roy volleyed home a Rab McLean knock-down.

Tower could have added to their advantage but they passed up a couple of good openings and they were made to rue these missed chances when LBC regained a foothold in the match.

And the side from the capital pulled level before the break when Craig Hume finished from close range.

Once again it was Tower who emerged the stronger side from the tunnel and they forced a series of smart stops from the LBC keeper.

With so much at stake cool heads were needed and Sacha Gardner provided just that for Tower when he won the ball in the midfield battle before gliding past two players and slipping a perfectly weighted through ball to Walker, who had timed his run to perfection.

The Tower frontman galloped after the ball which sent him clean through on goal and Walker slotted home in style to restore their lead.

There was just 20-minutes left to play but naturally LBC threw everything at the Tower rearguard who defended resolutely and mopped up everything that was thrown at them.

When they did find a gap in the Tower back line they found keeper Mark Reid in imperious form and he produced four stunning saves in one-on-one situations.

LBC also saw a goal chopped off for offside, had one effort cleared off the line and they missed their best chance which meant the trophy was heading for the Tower AFC trophy cabinet for the second time following on from their 1995 triumph.

But the season isn’t over yet for the amateur football heroes as they chase a historic quadruple of honours. They are still in the hunt for two other domestic cups as they prepare for two semis.

And they are only three points away from being crowned West Lothian Amateur League champs too.

Tower: Mark Reid, John Gerrard, Geo MacGregor, Liam Robinson, Freddie Coyle, Gaz White, Sacha Gardner, Derek Drummond, Rab McLean, Frazer Roy, Riki Livingstone, Danny Mathieson, Kev Turner, Stephen Moxham, Lee Adams, Sam Walker.