On a wet night, more suited to late Autumn rather than late Spring, it was Forth Valley SFA who held their nerve and in a penalty shoot – out after a 0-0 draw scored a perfect five from five to bring them a win against worthy opponents Paisley and District SFA.

The playing surface at Kilsyth Rangers FC’s Duncansfield withstood the almost constant rainfall and provided an excellent venue for this SSFA National Trophy final.

Both teams gave a fair and very committed effort in a game between two well matched teams. The goalkeepers at each end, Scott Cowie(Stirling HS) for Forth Valley and Kyle Aitken (Johnstone HS) for P&D both made important saves throughout the 90 minutes and that plus some resolute defending from both teams resulted in a full time scoreline with no goals.

Forth Valley had the ball in the net once at the start of the second half but this was cancelled out for an offside decision.

P&D finished on top but the Forth Valley defence stood strong.

Referee Steven Allan, who along with his assistants Tom Sutherland and Kai Hannah had handled the game between the two fully – committed sides very well given the nature of the wet and slippery surface, brought the game to an end sending the teams in to a penalty shootout.

Forth Valley keeper Scott Cowie saved the fourth kick taken by P&D which meant when Gavin Hamilton (Wallace HS) stepped up he had a kick to win the cup for his side. The schoolboy internationalist slotted home his kick to secure a memorable victory for his side.

Teams

Forth Valley: Scott Cowie (Stirling HS ), Gavin Hamilton (Wallace HS), Lewis Barr (Wallace HS ), John Binnie (Braes HS ), Ruaridh Cant (Dunblane HS), Josh Moore (Wallace HS), Marc Kilgannon (St. Modan’s HS), Murray Kerr (Wallace HS), Greg Harrower (Balfron HS), Jackson Mylchreest (Wallace HS), Sam Metcalfe (Wallace HS), Ewan Blues (St. Modan’s HS), Logan Riley  (Balfron HS), Ryan Pow (Wallace HS), Finlay Barr (Wallace HS), Fraser Wright (Larbert HS), Lachlan Hunter (Dunblane HS).

Paisley & District: Kyle Aitken (Johnstone HS), Jayden McGivern (St Stephen’s HS), Ben Wright (Johnstone HS), Zac Crombie (Notre Dame HS), James Hazlett (St Ninian’s HS), Rico De Marco (St Ninian’s HS), Christopher Mahon (St Ninian’s HS), Daniel Paterson (Paisley Grammar School), Jack Sinclair (Eastwood HS), Ryan Milne (Woodfarm HS), Nathan Canon (St Columba’s HS), Kyle McGale (Park Mains HS), Lewis Young (Renfrew HS), Marc Capaldi (St Ninian’s HS), Joe Gentile (Williamwood HS), Fraser Anderson (Woodfarm HS), Noah Duncan (St Luke’s HS), Harry Stephen (Mearns Castle HS )