On Friday evening our Under 20s side secured the league title in an incredible match with Sauchie at New Victoria Park.
Going into Friday’s match we needed 4 points from the remaining 3 games to secured top spot if opposition sides kept winning, however a win against Sauchie would mean that Glenrothes would need maximum points to keep their title hopes alive.
Nitten 20s took a 2 goal goal lead into half time through goals from Max Dowling & Frazer Sutherland but it wasn’t to be straight forward as Sauchie came out all guns blazing in the second half making it 2-2 by the 52nd minute. Then, just an minute later Jayden Bradley was giving a straight red card for a last man offence and Sauchie took a 3-2 lead from the penalty spot.
The drama continued as Sauchie were then reduced to 10 before Cammy Mason finished off a great move to tie the game at 3-3 with 15 minutes to go. Sauchie were then reduced to 9 men after another bad tackle and it was attack after attack for the young Nitten side.
Glenrothes had pulled back a 2-0 scoreline to make it 2-2 in the dying minutes of their game but that wouldn’t be enough if we could grab a late winner but time was running out until with just a minute remaining of normal time Frazer Sutherland beat the Sauchie keeper from a tight angle and it was bedlam at NVP. The full time whistle started the party and it continued into the dressing room and beyond.
Coach Kris Murdoch gave us his thoughts after the match, “Wow, what a game, i am drained! It wasn’t our best performance of that season, that’s for sure, but we wanted to win and we done that. It really shows how far this group of players have came in the last 2 years, the spirit and desire in the team is incredible. They are the best side in the league and now they have the league title to back that up. I’m personally over the moon for everyone at Nitten 20’s, its been a tough journey at times but very rewarding. To finish 5th last season with a team of 16 year olds was great but to really kick on this season and win the league is a fantastic achievement.”
Newtongrange Star Under 20s will be presented with their trophy on Friday 26th May after their last game of the season, at home to Inverkeithing Hillside Swifts.
