Coltness boys are the champions

Jun 3 2009 by Andrew Weston, Wishaw Press

Coltness boys are the champions

COLTNESS High School Head Teacher, Donald Fergusson, has hailed the school’s under-13 football team after they won the 2009 Bank of Scotland U-13 Plate.

It is the first time in the school’s 43-year history that a side has competed in the final of an 11-a-side national competition.

The talented squad did not disappoint beating fellow Lanarkshire team Duncanrig High School from East Kilbride, 5-1, at Toryglen Regional Football Centre, Glasgow, last Thursday.

Mr Fergusson said: “Some of the boys have got some real ability but they played as a team on a big surface and it was great to see.

“After a long spell where we have maybe had a number of good individual players it is nice to see a team do so well at national level.

“The game was played in a very sporting way and it was a very pleasant experience for them all.”

The end scoreline was possibly a little harsh on Duncanrig who took the game to Coltness on a number of occasions in an exciting match.

But Coltness struck twice early on to impose themselves on the East Kilbride team.

The opener came when a Coltness corner was not cleared properly and Kyle Cheng pounced to finish in the bottom corner.

Their second followed quickly when striker Craig Kennedy found himself behind the Duncanrig defence and kept a cool head to finish past the keeper.

Coltness made it three in similar fashion just after the 20 minute mark when Kennedy’s pace again put him through on goal and the striker finished well.

In the second half the Duncanrig side rallied and got a goal back midway through but Coltness sealed their victory with two late goals from substitutes Daryl Barnstaple and Dylon McLauchlan.

Mr Fergusson continued: “The facility at Toryglen is a terrific arena which is the size of Hampden’s pitch.

“For boys at that level it was an enormous pitch to play on but they did very well.”

He added: “I think Lanarkshire is still a good breading ground for young talent.

“There is a lot of good football played in Lanarkshire and the Wishaw area in general.”

Sarah Cran of the Bank of Scotland said: “I would like to congratulate Coltness High School on their victory.

“It is a fantastic achievement to reach the final of a national competition and both teams should feel proud of their outstanding efforts.”