Fife v Paisley and District
SSFA Senior National Trophy semi final.
Paisley and District secured their place in the SSFA National Trophy final – the inter association competition, after a roller coaster game at New Central Park, home of Kelty Hearts. P&D won 4-3 in a thrilling, all action game.
Fife SFA put up a magnificent fight to reach this season’s final. There was no competition last season and Fife were denied their appearance in 2020 when Covid restrictions meant their final was cancelled. A great comeback effort came close to taking the game to a penalty shoot out but a late headed goal from substitute Fraser Anderson (Woodfarm High School) took Paisley through.
In an impressive first half performance P&D took an early lead when Ryan Milne ( Woodfarm HS) finished well from ten yards out.
Fife responded with a free kick special from Lewis Bennet ( Waid Academy) to draw the game level.
A great volley from the edge of the box from James Hazlett ( St Ninian’s HS) restored the visitor’s lead.
Before half time Ryan Milne added his second goal with a clever lob and follow up header to give his side a 3-1 half time lead.
The next goal was to be vital and with twenty minutes to go it went the way of Fife. A surprising effort from Fife substitute Miles Miller ( Waid Academy) found the far corner and it was ‘game on’ at 2-3.
Keeping up the pressure on their opponents Fife pressed for an equaliser. This goal came when Jackson Innes ( Queen Anne HS) headed home strongly from a corner kick.
Fife must have thought they had done enough to at least earn a penalty shoot out( there is no extra time in this competition) but then came Fraser Anderson’s goal.
The P&D substitute worked hard to earn his team a corner in the last few minutes of the game and he headed home powerfully to secure his side their cup final appearance.
Already through to the final are Forth Valley SFA. The game is scheduled for Monday 9th May at 7.00 pm and the SSFA is now working hard to secure a suitable neutral venue for final.
Forth Valley Reach Final.
Senior National Trophy Semi Final.
With just over fifteen minutes to go in their SSFA Senior National Trophy semi- final game at Holm Park Yoker, Glasgow Schools’ FA must have thought that they had one foot in the final. Leading 1 – 0 from an early first half penalty converted by Jai Stevenson, they missed a few second half opportunities to finish off the game.
But, in a spirited second half comeback it was Forth Valley Schools’ FA who took two late chances to snatch the win away from their opponents.
After a lacklustre first half Forth Valley showing, in which Glasgow keeper, Liam Russell ( Holyrood Sec and the SSFA international keeper) only had one shot to save, the visitors played much better in the second period.
They did have to rely on keeper Scott Cowie (Stirling HS) and also an SSFA international squad member) who made two crucial saves to keep his team in the game. Then came the dramatic ending as FVSFA threw everything they had at Glasgow.
With fifteen minutes remaining, Greg Harrower (Balfron HS) latched on to a bouncing ball in the box that Glasgow failed to clear. His shot from fifteen yards flew past keeper Russell to bring the scores level.
With only five minutes to play Lachlan Hunter (Dunblane HS) hammered home from ten yards out to snatch the win for his team.
Forth Valley ‘managed ‘ the remaining few minutes of playing time, keeping the ball well away from their end to secure a victory.
