After the disappointment of the Scottish cup semi-final being postponed because of the weather, the Braidhurst under fifteen squad were eager to get off to a good start in the match against very tough opponents in the shape of Grange Academy.

 

Braidhurst dominated early possession and looked the more likely to score with several chances forcing the keeper to make a save or just narrowly missing the target.   However against the run of play, it was Grange who took the lead.   After putting pressure on the Braidhurst defence, the ball broke to their left winger who played a low driven cross into the box, which the striker finished in the bottom corner.

 

This was a huge setback for Braidhurst, but they were determined to get it back, and straight away began to have more of the ball and made Grange chase the ball.   They continued to play balls into the final third but they were not quite making their targets.   With ten minutes to go before half time, Reece Geddes picked up the ball in midfield and with some empty space in front of him ran forwards and unleashed a venomous trike which was destined for the top corner.   The keeper did very well to get over to the shot but the power was just too much for him and he spilled it, to allow James Miller to smash home the equaliser from close range.   In the last few minutes of the half, Cameron Clark come very close to scoring after a superb shot from the edge of the box which hit the post and rolled along the goal line.

 

The second half began much like the first half and Braidhurst looked the more likely team to score.   The game was getting more frantic as time elapsed.   The Braidy strikers began to find more space in and around the box but could not convert these chances into goals.   As the game entered the last 10 minutes it looked as if it may go to penalties.   However, as Braidhurst pushed forward, they were awarded a free kick just inside the Grange half.   Lewis Gamble played an excellent ball into the back post and Tom Leighton was on hand to knock the ball into the net.   The score was now 2-1 with very little time left.   The boys worked very hard not to ensure that Grange did not have any goal scoring opportunities and after some last ditch defending managed to scramble the ball away.   With that, the final whistle sounded and Braidhurst had made it into the Scottish Cup final.

 

Well done to all the boys in the squad, they were a credit to themselves, parents and the school.