IT was cold and bleak at Campbell Park in Colinton for the quarter-final of the under-16 Steve Maskrey Cup between Pentland Panthers and Loanhead MWBC, but the non-stop action on the pitch warmed up everyone, both players and spectators alike.
In a tremendous game of action-packed football, it was the home side that were celebrating at the close of play, deservedly so, as the team from the lower division of the Lothian Buses sponsored Eastern Region Youth Leagues shocked the higher-rated L
oanhead outfit 3-2.
Pentland Panthers spokesperson Barry Campbell enthused: "That is the standard of football that we should be playing each week and, yes, I am very pleased indeed with the performance of our team."
After an engrossing cracking first half to this quarter-final clash, the score was 1-1 at the break.
Loanhead created more chances in the first half but the very well organised and totally determined Panthers outfit contested every ball and, gradually, they mounted more and more attacks while facing the added disadvantage of a strong wind.
Panthers goalkeeper, Daniel McKenzie, was in brilliant form in the home goal and he was much more active than opposition keeper Darren Lunn.
The super-enthusiastic McKenzie has a penchant to come away off his line at times and he caused a few anxious moments among the Pentland coaching staff with his daring and, at times, foolhardy involvement in situations on the 18-yard line - and beyond.
This young man looks, however, to be goalkeeper with the same "crazy" mentality of all good goalkeepers and he looks to have a good future ahead of him.
The visitors took the lead in the 18th minute, when McKenzie came away off his line and a headed pass back from Ian Mortimer sailed past him, allowing big Laurie Jones to run on and guide the ball into the empty Pentland net.
That set-back appeared to inspire the home side into even greater effort, however, and they duly got their just reward when midfield star, Sam Campbell, picked up a clearance and sent a glorious weighted pass forward for Martin Smith to outpace his markers, round the out coming goalkeeper and guide the ball over the line for a great equaliser.
It was still 1-1 at the break, giving referee, Billy Connor, and both sets of players the chance to get their breath back.
It was the home side who lifted their game to even higher levels in the second period, however, with the strong wind causing the Loanhead rearguard all sorts of problems.
Panthers second goal came when Michael Collin set Smith free again through the centre of the Loanhead defence and this time the very good No.9 used the wind to his advantage to loft the ball over Lunn and into the net to make it 2-1.
The visiting side struggled after that and, for a while, they were on the back foot.
The tackles started to go in, too, and the match official had to book a few players as he established his authority on the game.
Smith saw another fantastic effort elude Lunn but this time the wind whipped the ball up when it bounced and it landed on the top of the bar.
The pressure on the Loanhead goal produced a third counter for the home side.
Shortly after a thunderbolt of a free-kick blazed just over the top of Lunn's goal, Pentland were celebrating a goal again, Allan Chalmers smashing a great shot past Lunn from inside the 18-yard line on the right of the Loanhead goal to make it 3-1.
That goal livened things up even more and the visiting side were much more involved in attacking moves, with McKenzie back in the thick of things in his own inimitable way in the Pentland goal.
In a wonderful end to this quarter-final tie, Loanhead Scott Finlayson reduced the deficit to 3-2 with seven minutes left on the clock.
The Midlothian side looked much more like themselves in the closing minutes and it was they who finished the stronger, but they just could not break down the resolute Pentland Panthers defence or the flamboyant McKenzie. This was a super game and the quality of play from both sides was further indication of the hard work being done in both clubs to encourage young players to play passing football.
On the day, it was Pentland Panthers who were the better team and the feeling was that there is much more to come from this ambitious club.
Pentland Panthers: Daniel McKenzie, Ian Mortimer, Colin Campbell, Chris Ross, Stuart Shand, Ross Chinnery, Andrew Bright, Sam Campbell, Martin Smith, Jordan Smith, Euan Moffat, Michale Collin, Stephen Grafton, Craig Dunlop, Allan Chalmers, Grant Frier.
Loanhead MWBC: Darryn Lunn, Ross Murray, James Watson, Scott Finlayson, Jamie Pinkerton, Laurie Jones, Andy Buchan, Kris Mitchell, Craig Edwards, Greg Callaghan, Greg Maclean, Dean Burrell.
Referee: Billy Connor.
FRIDAY night's David Innes under-14 Cup final between Roseburn Colts and Edinburgh City 93 at Saughton Enclosure was postponed, with Allan Archibald, the secretary of the Eastern Region Youth FA, only told of the decision hours before the kick-off. The decision to put the game off was to protect the pitch for East of Scotland Senior side Lothian Thistle's match the next day.
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