Junior Schools’ Cup 2023 was a day of classic finals

Junior Girls Cup | Hutchesons’ Grammar School v George Watson’s College

George Watson’s College won the Junior Girls’ Cup with a 2-1 victory over Hutchesons’ Grammar in Peffermill.

It was a tight and competitive opening to the contest with neither side able to grasp hold of the game.

Both sides had bite in midfield, but had to battle with the conditions as well as each other as the heavens opened.

As the half drew to a close George Watson’s College began to pressure the Hutcheson’s circle, but were unable to fashion any clear openings.

George Watson’s pressured well at the start of the second half and were rewarded by an early goal. A pass into the circle from the right was converted at close range by Lily Thomas to make it 1-0.

Gabriela Fontenla made it 2-0 shortly later with a tremendous improvised finish into the bottom right corner of the net.

Hutchesons’ Grammar pulled one back with six minutes to go, a lovely shot on the turn by Edie Simmers-Clark for 2-1.

The last few minutes saw a Hutchesons’ Grammar onslaught but George Watson’s held on to lift the trophy with a great win.

Photo by David McCarthy

 

Junior Boys Cup | Jordanhill School 1-4 Fettes College

Fettes College were victorious in the Junior Boys’ Cup Final with a 4-1 win over Jordanhill School at Peffermill.

The game was only four minutes old when Matthew Dodson opened the scoring for Jordanhill, to give his side an electric start.

It took five minutes for the next goal and it came when an Oliver Pillinger penalty corner found the net to equalise for Fettes College. 1-1.

After the early goals the game became a midfield slugfest with both sides battling hard, and cancelling each other out, which is how things remained until half time.

Early in the second half Fettes went 2-1 ahead. A Cody Adams drag flick looped up off the keepers stick and landed in the goal.

Fettes struck again when Adams fired home his second to make it 3-1 and give his side some breathing space.

Then it went 4-1 to Fettes College as Andrew Rushbrook struck the ball off the bar and in for a great goal.

Two late efforts saw Adams denied a hat-trick and it was a super 4-1 win for Fettes School.

Photo by David McCarthy

Junior Girls’ Challenge Plate | Peebles High School 0-1 Morrison’s Academy

A close Junior Girls’ Challenge Plate Final saw Morrison’s Academy come out on top with a 1-0 victory at Peffermill.

Morrison’s Academy enjoyed good pressure early in the first half but found the Peebles High School defence in stubborn mood, giving nothing away.

Despite the Morrison’s pressure it was Peebles who created the first chance of the game. A swift counter attack saw Faye Hewitson bear down on goal, but Maisie Donnelly in goal for Morrison’s was out quickly to block the effort.

Then another counter saw Eilidh Dougherty shoot on the turn for Peebles but her effort struck the post, then went wide.

From the whistle in the second half Morrison’s went on the attack and got their reward with the opening goal. A nice pass found Sophie Barrowman in the circle who pushed the ball goalward only to be booted into the path of Francesca Whiteman by the goalkeeper, and Whiteman made no mistake with a low shot into the far corner for 1-0.

Zoe Dalakas nearly made it 2-0 but her back post effort went just wide of the mark.

A late push by Peebles couldn’t find an equaliser and it was a victory for Morrison’s Academy in a great final.

Junior Girls’ Plate | Mary Erskine School 2-0 Edinburgh Academy

It was a 2-0 victory for Mary Erskine School against Edinburgh Academy in the Junior Girls’ Plate Final.

Mary Erskine School had the first attack of the contest when a crash ball into the circle was deflected just wide of the post.

The opening goal came moments later for Mary Erskine School, and it was Nicole McAdam who struck at the second attempt to make it 1-0, 90 seconds into the contest.

Edinburgh Academy came right back into the contest and nearly equalised but for a double save to keep them at bay.

Jenna Park looked dangerous for Edinburgh Academy with several surging runs up the pitch, while Jennifer Cain offered a similar threat for Mary Erskine School.

The second half was end-to-end with both goalkeepers producing top saves to keep the score line 1-0.

Mary Erskine scored a second right before full time, when the ball was forced home from close range by Emma Kernaghan to see the game end Mary Erskine School 2-0 Edinburgh Academy.

 

Junior Boys’ Plate | Strathallan 2-2 (0-2) Stewart’s Melville College

Stewart’s Melville College won the Junior Boys Plate 2-0 in a shootout after a tight 2-2 draw at full time.

The game got off to a flying start and Calum MacLean opened the scoring to give Stewart’s Melville College a 1-0 lead.

Stewart’s Melville College then had the chance to double their advantage when Greg Wardlaw stepped up to take a penalty flick, but it was well saved low to the left by the goalkeeper.

Then Strathallan equalised. A well worked move down the right saw the ball find Ben Brown unmarked to finish at the far post. 1-1.

Right after the goal came an immediate response when a close range finish by Wardlaw restored Stewart’s Melville College lead – 2-1.

James Townshend then rifled home a penalty corner to level the scores again as Strathallan made it 2-2.

There were chances at both ends throughout the second half with both goalkeepers producing excellent saves.

It went to penalties after a tense end to the game with nothing to separate the sides. The shootout was just as tense as the finale of the match, but it was Stewart’s Melville College who clocked up a 2-0 win.

Photo by David McCarthy

 

Junior Girls Challenge Cup | St Columba’s School 1-3 Kelvinside Academy

It was a 3-1 win for Kelvinside Academy over St Columba’s School in the Girls’ Challenge Cup.

St Columba’s had the first attempt of the match when a penalty corner effort was well defended.

They kept piling on the pressure, and the pressure paid off when Ruby Thomson struck the opener to make it 1-0.

Kelvinside had the ball in the net a short time later but it was ruled out and St Columba’s kept their lead.

Louisa Sheridan struck the post for Kelvinside as they went hunting for the elusive equaliser, but St Columba’s held firm to the break.

St Columba’s kept Kelvinside pinned back at the start of the second half but on a swift counter attack they earned a penalty corner, the effort was well defended.

The attack spurred on the Glasgow side and they enjoyed a period of sustained pressure, and won themselves a penalty flick. Stella Cousins stepped up to strike it and found the roof of the net for 1-1.

Kelvinside thought they’d took the lead when they piled in on goal but the ball was somehow cleared off the line with bodies piling in on goal.

Then with five minutes remaining Jessica Marsh found the net with a low shot for Kelvinside Academy to go 2-1 ahead.

The game was sealed when Katie Reid fired home to make it 3-1 to Kelvinside Academy with two minutes to play.

Photo by David McCarthy

 

 

 

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