Barrhead’s cup glory
Stunning display topples Aberdonians
Craig Ritchie An outstanding second- half display from Barrhead Youth 2003s saw them lift the Scottish Cup as they swept aside Banks O’ Dee Albion at the Excelsior Stadium.
With the Aberdeen side being held up in roadworks, the game was delayed by half an hour but that didn’t affect the Barrhead side as they started brightly.
Their first sight of goal came after two minutes when Matthew Sorley tried his luck from distance with a free kick but it didn’t really trouble the Dee keeper.
Soon after, Paul O’Hare sprung into life, the start of a performance that would later win him the man of the match award.
But Banks O’Dee started to come into the game and Lewis Baird was causing problems, taking possession before holding up for his midfielders who were more than keen to run beyond him. The Northerners took the lead on 14 minutes when a ball over the Barrhead defence found Lyll Inness and he fired home the opener.
But the equaliser came soon after, and on 22 minutes, Dylan Noone took a cross which was partially cleared, O’Hare gathered before sending a ball to the back post that Ross Ingram headed goal ward and Adam Unsworth got the last touch to level the scores.
Into the second half and Barrhead turned up the heat on their opponents, the passing and movement of the players was a joy to watch with O’Hare the main man.
Soon after Barrhead went in front for the first time. O’Hare faced with two defenders had only one thing on his mind and ran straight at them showing quick feet he skipped past two tackles before cutting inside before curling a quite sublime right footed shot past the helpless keeper.
Both teams started to make changes to freshen up their sides, but just before the quarter hour mark Barrhead went further ahead. O’Hare raced into the Banks O’Dee area before being hauled down and up stepped Barclay who rifled the spot kick home.
A minute remained as the Barrhead support waited to celebrate, but what they didn’t expect was to be treated to a goal fit to grace any game. A corner on the left was only partially cleared and as the ball headed towards the penalty spot, Barclay, with his back to goal rose up and hit a quite breathtaking overhead kick high into the net to seal the win and put the stamp on a fantastic second half performance from Barrhead.
Barrhead: Campbell, Noone, Unsworth, Brogan, Ingram, Hobbs, O’Hare, Scott, McIntyre, Barclay and Sorley.
Subs: Morrison, McGarry, Groden, Hay and Lochhead.