Six-shooting Leith Athletic under-17s crush Broxburn Diamonds in wind and rain

Leith Athletic under-17s braved tough conditions to continue their fine start to the Division 1 campaign with a dominant 6-0 victory away to Broxburn Diamonds to continue their charge up the table.

Leith braved the wind and took the lead on 18 minutes when Rory Hunter headed in John Ward’s cross. The visitors grew in confidence from that early goal and continued to dominate proceedings, with Ben Wardlaw netting a quickfire double to put Leith well in the ascendancy at the interval.

Captain Ewan Howie quickly made it four after the half-time break with a fine left-footed strike from the edge of the box.

Rhys McMurdo immediately increased Leith’s advantage further from the restart when he fired into the back of the net following a short corner which caught the home side off

guard.

McMurdo would make it six with his second of the day when he unleashed a strike into the back of the net following a surging run.

Cramond under-15s maintained their stranglehold of the Division 3 top spot with a crushing 6-1 defeat of North Merchiston.

After a balanced start with chances at both ends, it was the home side who took command thanks to an impressive surging run and finish from Thomas Walton on 15 minutes.

Walton then set up Ben Childs for goal number two when his corner-kick landed nicely for Childs and he converted from close range.

Midfield men Reuben Tank and Toby Grainger did the industrious work in midfield for Cramond allowing their more creative players to play, which Walton benefited from as he would make it three.

Merchie did pull a goal back before half-time, but Cramond, skippered by Aidan Elliott, didn’t let up and scored three goals without reply as Walton bagged his hat-trick, while Finlay Parnell and Michael Leslie also got on the scoresheet.

Elsewhere, Spartans Reds under-17s continue to set the early pace at the top of Division 1 after their 4-0 defeat of Edinburgh South Reds with four different scorers netting in Luca McCall, Seb Mrowczynski, Johnny Cain and Lee Darling.