Young Diamonds celebrate cup win

Jun 3 2009 by Colin Paterson, Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser

AN extra-time double from supersub Paul McVey clinched the Central Regional Cup for Airdrie.

Jarvie McWhinnie’s under-16 side trailed 2-1 in the second half in their clash with Laurieston at Ochilview but bounced back in an entertaining final to secure the silverware.

Both sides were well-organised defensively from the very beginning which meant there were few clear cut goalscoring opportunities during the early part of the match.

Scott McWhinnie got on the end of a long ball in behind the Laurieston defence but fired into the side-netting in the 11th minute.

An effort from distance by Airdrie’s Graeme Goodall then failed to trouble the keeper as the young Diamonds began to get a grip on the game.

The Airdrie youngsters were battling away in search of the opening goal which duly arrived for the Diamonds in the 31st minute.

Airdrie turned defence into attack when they cleared a Laurieston corner up to striker Steven Kelly.

The forward controlled the ball and turned brilliantly to leave Jamie Colston standing before advancing towards goal and providing a finish of real quality for the opener.

Laurieston countered almost instantly when an effort from just outside the box by Lewis Thom was turned wide at his near post by keeper Jordan Malone.

But they were handed a golden chance to equalise in the 49th minute after referee Jim Robert awarded Laurieston a penalty following consultation with his linesman.

Goodall was judged to have fouled Stephen Lee in the box and Colston stepped-up to confidently tuck away the spot-kick.

And Airdrie will have felt their luck was running out as Laurieston took the lead in the 63rd minute with Thom drilling home a Daniel Oliphant pass.

The Diamonds needed to raise themselves for a thrilling finish and they certainly responded.

Five minutes after Laurieston took the lead, Airdrie United captain Christopher Murray came close.

But they didn’t have to wait long before making it 2-2.

In the 73rd minute, a Kelly shot was spilled by keeper Scott Ritchie into the path of Scott Clark who made no mistake.

Airdrie made a crucial breakthrough with just two minutes of the opening period of extra-time remaining when they got their noses in front.

A spell of good pressure resulted in the ball finding McVey whose shot seemed to deceive Ritchie as it flew into the net.

Airdrie midfielder Patrick Hughes had a goal disallowed for offside in the 94th minute while, at the other end, Scott Reilly cleared a dangerous corner off the line.

But the Diamonds went on to bag a fourth goal and win the cup with three minutes left.

A lovely forward move was rounded off in style by McVey who fired the ball high into the net.

Airdrie: Malone, Goodall, Clark, McWhinnie, Shaw, Murphy, Hughes, Rankin, Reilly, Longmuir, Kelly. Subs: Ferguson, Collins, McGurk, Cumming, McVey.

Laurieston: Ritchie, Lee, Wilson, Colston, Oliphant, McQuade, Reilly, McDiarmid, Thom, Arbuckle, Hillhouse. Subs: Chalmers, Waddell, Currie.

Referee: Jim Robert.