Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
McMASTERFUL
Stunning free-kick settles thrilling Billy Harkness Cup final
Bullfrog ............. 4 Baillieston .........3
Mark Pirie
Bullfrog lifted the Billy Harkness Challenge Cup after a stunning free-kick late in the game completed a seven goal thriller.
The Airdrie and Coatbridge Sunday League (A&C) side lifted the trophy in its 10th anniversary year — winning by the odd goal in seven against a spirited Baillieston outfit at the Excelsior Stadium.
The sun was shining as founder William Harkness, who organised the event in honour of his late son, revealed a new trophy which would be presented to the winners.
Bullfrog took an early lead when John Hendry burst through the defence to unleash thundering strike.
Baillieston keeper David Scott got a glove to it, but it struck the post and nestled in the bottom corner.
The Bully men were well in control and nearly made it two straight from the kick off after some neat play put Robert McMahon through on goal, but it went high and wide from the awkward angle.
Baillieston came back into the game as Declan Crone hit his shot across the keeper after it bobbled through the defence, and it found its way into the net off the post.
They were now enjoying their best spell of the game, and an awkward ball puts through Lee James McBride but he couldn’t control the ball to get his shot away.
They did go in front as John Milne unleashed a shot from 30 yards out which found its way into the top corner of the net.
Moments later, the Bully boys were level as a Colin Gillies cross/shot from the right wing sailed into the net. It was endto-end stuff after the break, with only some last-ditch defending from Bullfrog keeping the game level.
A David McGeechan cross from the left wing found Daniel Wilhare unmarked in the box, however he scuffed his shot and the ball Bullfrog party with the cup was easily collected. Both sides were enjoying some joy down the wings, and Bullfrog took the lead once again with a well-worked cross from the flanks.
A dipping cross into the box found Hendry who burst the net with a bullet header to make it 3-2.
Bullfrog could have made it four as McMahon outpaced the defence to set up Hendry for his hat-trick — but his shot sailed over.
They had another great chance to seal the game after James Gibbons fought his way through the Baillieston back line and played it to Hendry, however he hit the ball straight at the keeper.
Stopper Scott had to be at his best to keep Baillieston in the game, as Anthony Mitchell tested him with a low shot that he somehow managed to tip past the post.
Bullfrog were made to rue their missed chances as Baillieston equalised against the run of play.
Substitute James Stewart took control of the ball in midfield and went unchallenged before rifling the ball into the net from the edge of the box.
However, Bullfrog did rescue the game and secure the new-look trophy with a wonder strike from William McMaster, as he placed his free-kick just out of the reach of man-of-the-match Scott.