HIGH-FLYING Salvesen under-14s were held to a 1-1 draw in their away Eastern Region Youth FA league fixture by a much-improved Leith Athletic Colts side at Leith Links.
After such a long period of inactivity for the Leith outfit and, with only 12 players to choose from – one of their regulars opted to go to see Hibs playing Rangers at Easter Road rather than play in this tremendous game – the players wearing the fam
ous black and white colours of Leith Athletic surprised everyone, particularly a Salvesen team that has already booked its place in this season's Willie Bauld Cup final.
Salvesen looked worthy of their pre-match position as favourites, making an impressive start to the game, putting Leith goalie Jake Louden and his defensive colleagues under constant pressure.
It took a great defensive clearance to prevent Salvesen getting a goal early on and, when the ball went up to the other end of the pitch, Steve Handren sent an inviting cross into the Salvesen goalmouth from the right, but the ball was headed wide of the target.
Salvesen took play back into the danger area in front of Louden, and the smart-moving Scott Ferguson fired a good effort over the bar.
The home side were given great encouragement from their animated coaches on the sidelines and they contested every ball with their opponents.
A Leith free-kick in a good position was sent well wide of the target but in another assault on the Salvesen goal it took an excellent save from goalkeeper Corey Gilmour to keep Leith out.
Handren again impressed for Leith in another move that the Salvesen defenders cleared. Louden, meanwhile, was glad to see a good effort from Glen Parker flash wide of the Leith goal.
Salvesen went even closer to breaking the deadlock and, when a Leith defender sent the ball flying back at his own goal, it took a wonderful goal-line clearance to keep the ball from crossing the line. Big Salvesen No.5 Douglas McKenzie then surged upfield on a tremendous run but he was tackled when he got himself into the Leith danger area.
Leith were lucky to scramble the ball away in another Salvesen attack but the visitors did get the goal they deserved in their next raid on the Leith goal, Chris Cairns being first to a rebound to force the ball over the Leith goal-line. However, Leith hit back on the restart and it took desperate defending by the visitors to clear the ball in a crowded goalmouth following a good free-kick. Shortly before the half-time whistle from excellent young match official Liam McPherson, Salvesen had another chance to score a second but Parker was just off target with his shot at Louden's goal. Only one goal separated the sides at the end of a cracking first half. On the restart, Leith made tracks toward the Salvesen goal and they quickly made it 1-1 with Greg Robertson showing remarkable coolness under pressure to slot the ball past the advancing Gilmour to the delight of the large Leith contingent watching this excellent youth game.
It was "game on" after that and Gilmour was forced to come out beyond the 18-yard box to clear the danger in the next Leith charge. It was certainly exciting to watch these kids in action with both sides going at each other as if it was a cup final.
Ferguson went close to scoring again for the visitors and Leith replied with a brilliant passing move, but the Salvesen defence threw up a defensive wall around Gilmour.
With the game played at a tremendous tempo, there were numerous free-kicks awarded to both sides, with Louden and Gilmour constantly in action to clear shots.
There were no more goals despite the non-stop attacks on both goals and the honours were shared in a 1-1 draw.
Colts' coach, Peter Sargent, with a massive smile on his face, said: "That was a performance full of character from our players. We thought we would struggle against this good Salvesen team but we matched them in every area of the pitch.
"It was a great game of football for the players to play in and also from a spectator's point of view. After such a long break, it was a wonderful performance from our small squad of players."
And the reaction of the Leith players was an indicator of the way they felt at holding Salvesen to a share of the points.
They were celebrating as if they had just won a cup final with Euan Morris shaking hands with everyone who went near him.
Leith Athletic Colts: Jake Louden, William Jacket, Charlie Murray, Greg Fulton, Keiran McDonald, Steve Handren, Lewis Grant, Greg Robertson, Euan Morris, Sean McPherson, Chris Dunn, Darren Barclay.
Salvesen Boys' Club: Corey Gilmour, Chris Deignon, Connor McDonald, Dylan Easton, William McArthur, Scott Ferguson, Dylan Yardley, Glen Parker, Lewis Crosbie, Grant Stuart, Lewis Campbell, Dale Colley, Liam Walkinshaw, Chris Cairns, Andy McLennan, Jamie Lawson.
Referee: Liam McPherson.
The full article contains 851 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
