U15 Girls North of Scotland Schools cup final: The Nicolson
Institute 1 v 0 Mintlaw Academy
The recently crowned Scottish Champions, the Nicolson
Institute U15 Girls’ football team took to the field again last week with the
second final of their campaign, this time competing for the North of Scotland
Schools cup. Their opponents once again were Mintlaw Academy – the same team
that they played in the final of the Scottish Cup. This is the first time that the
same two teams from the North of Scotland have played in the final of the
Scottish Cup and the North of Scotland in the same year and with the Nicolson
girls having the psychological edge over Mintlaw, the scene was set for another
epic final between the top two schools in Scotland.
The Nicolson girls set their stall out in the opening
minutes of the game with a blistering run down the left wing from Beth ‘the
bolt’ Macleod but her cross into the box was dealt with by the Mintlaw defence
and the ball was cleared. Within minutes, Macleod on the left wing made another
mazy run down the wing and managed to dance her way to the bye line before
pulling the ball back into the path of Lorna Latimir but her shot was blocked
and the keeper scooped the ball out of danger. The opening minutes of the game
saw attack after attack from Beth Macleod and the Mintlaw defence were
struggling to keep up with the pacey winger. The Nicolson girls were the
stronger team in the first twenty minutes of the game and the partnership of
Isabelle Bain and Nicole Maclean in the middle of the park was too hot to
handle for the Mintlaw midfield. Amy Macleod on the right wing was also causing
problems for the Mintlaw defence with her tireless running and chasing every
ball. The first clear cut chance of the match came to the Nicolson girls when
Isabelle Bain played a superb 15 yard reverse pass through the midfield and
through the Mintlaw defence to land at the feet of Latimir up front. Latimir
burst through and with only the keeper to beat, her thunderbolt shot hit the
keeper, who knew nothing about it, and bounced into the path of the back
tracking defender. This was a real wake up call for Mintlaw and it seemed to
spur them into action and they then began to put more pressure on the Nicolson
team. Mintlaw had their own chance minutes later when their pacey forward burst
through the Nicolson defence but the ever sharp Cirsty Gillies in goals came
powering out of her box to close the player down and she blocked the shot from
point blank range. Mintlaw continued to put the pressure on the Nicolson team
but the defence, superbly marshalled by the captain, Eleanor Smith continued to
close the ball down and pressurise Mintlaw into mistakes. The game sparked into
a frenzy in the last two minutes of the half when the Nicolson girls were
awarded a stone wall penalty after Kirsty Macdonald was pole axed inside the
box after displaying a fantastic first touch which her opponent could not
match. Nicole Maclean stepped up to the take spot kick to give the Nicolson a
deserved lead but her shot careered off the underside of the bar and into the
keeper’s hands. Half time and 0-0.
The second half began as the first half had ended with the
Nicolson girls on the attack and taking the game to Mintlaw. The midfield
continued to pile the pressure on Mintlaw with their pin point passing and lung
bursting runs off the ball. Beth Macleod and Amy Macleod playing on the left
and right wing continued to create chances for the Nicolson but the Mintlaw
defence stood strong and were proving difficult to break down. Mintlaw also
continued to create their own chances but the Nicolson back four of Amy
Shirkie, Peigi Ann Scott, Amanda Nicolson and Eleanor Smith stood strong and the
continued to frustrate the Mintlaw strike force with their resolute defending.
The break through for the Nicolson finally came with fifteen minutes to go when
Kirsty Macdonald played the ball through to Latimir up front and the powerhouse
striker burst through and with the onrushing keeper closing her down, she
coolly lobbed the ball over the keeper from 22 yards out – a fantastic finish
worthy to win any cup final. The Nicolson girls had finally broken the deadlock
and got the goal that they deserved. With time running out, the Mintlaw girls
started to throw everything but the kitchen sink at the Nicolson girls but each
and every attack was thwarted by the solid defence which continued to be
marshalled excellently by Smith and Gillies. Mintlaw were awarded a free kick
30 yards out with minutes to go and with their powerful defender stepping up to
take the direct free kick, it was a tense moment as a goal at this point would
take the game into penalties. The free kick came into the box and Gillies
shouted loudly for the ball and claimed the ball in the air and then blasted it
up the field and out of danger. The Nicolson girls continued to press hard
until the final whistle and when the referee finally called a halt to play, the
Nicolson girls were jubilant in their celebrations. The Nicolson team were
worthy winners of this final and team captain, Eleanor Smith, stepped up to
collect the cup for the Nicolson girls. It has been a historic year for the
Nicolson U15 girls’ team and they have concluded their season with the cup
double: Scottish champions and North of Scotland champions – well done to the
girls.
Team: Cirsty Gillies, Eleanor Smith (capt), Amanda Nicolson,
Peigi A Scott, Amy Shirkie, Beth Macleod, Kirsty Macdonald, Isabelle Bain,
Nicole Maclean, Amy Macleod, Lorna Latimir, Kathryn Macmillan, Rachael Macleod.
