Youths: Hutchie 19s at the double as they lift Cruden Bowl

Hutchison Vale 19s show off the Cruden Bowl after their 8-3 victory over Spartans

Having been crowned Division 1 League Cup winners on Monday night Hutchie were keen to start the game strongly but it wasn’t to be. Spartans got off a flier as Daniel Wilson played in Declan Knox, and the striker drifted in from the right to pick out the bottom left corner to make it 1-0, with only 60 seconds played.

Hutchie had to quickly pick themselves up and created their first opening with ten minutes gone. Brodie Hamilton sent a square pass from the left to Ciaren Chalmers but he skewed his shot wide of Jordan Pettigrew’s goal.

Hutchie continued to persevere and they equalised soon after. Hamilton whipped a low ball into the box from the left and, after Samuel Nhamburo’s effort was saved by Pettigrew, Scott Russell made no mistake with the rebound to make it 1-1.

The momentum was with the side in black and yellow and they added another midway through the half. Callum Rae on the right slid the ball into Aidan McGuire and he side-footed in from eight yards.

Hutchie began to control the game but, before the half was out, Spartans equalised. Dawid Fajks was fouled in the Hutchie box and Stephan Murray comfortably dispatched the penalty down the middle for 2-2.

The scoreline didn’t stand still for too long though as Hutchie showed determination to get back in front before half-time. Hamilton burst down the left and teed up Chalmers to smash high into the Spartans goal.

Spartans brought on Andy Garson at half-time to boost their attack and he played a key part in Spartan’s equaliser shortly after the break. He sent the ball out wide to Callum Wales on the right and he set up Declan Knox to smash into the top right corner from a tight angle.

The game opened up as both sides went on the attack. Hutchie had two great chances in quick succession as Chalmers twice headed over unchallenged. The game was evenly poised but Hutchie should have made it 4-3 with 25 minutes to go. In a dominant ten-minute spell Hutchie were awarded corner after corner and two attempts were cleared off the line by the Spartans rearguard.

Hutchie went ahead again shortly after. Russell was played through in behind the Spartans defence and he squared the ball for Hamilton to tuck away with Pettigrew out of position.

As the final began to draw to a close the next goal was crucial. For Hutchie it would surely seal victory and for Spartans it would keep them in with a chance. But crucially Hutchie found the net with 15 minutes remaining. The ever present Chalmers drilled a low ball in from the right and Russell made no mistake with a composed close-range finish to give his side a two-goal cushion.

With eight minutes remaining Hutchie secured cup final victory. Chalmers got up well to glance a header past Pettigrew to make it 6-3 to courageous Hutchie. Then, minutes later, McGuire blasted in a loose ball in the Spartans box to add another.

Late on, there was still time for Hutchie extend their tally and Chalmers put the icing on the cake for his side as he picked up a hat-trick with a deft header from Daryl Healy’s cross.

Hutchison Vale 19s: Quinn Franklin, Marcus Hall, John Francis, David Macnamara, Mark Higgins, Aidan McGuire, Daryl Healy, Mohammed Asam, Ciaren Chalmers, Brodie Hamilton, Rhys Surgeon, Samuel Nhamburo, Callum Rae, Scott Russell.

Spartans FC 19s: Jordan Pettigrew, Chris Williamson, Gabriel Hill, Jamie Carrick, Conor Taylor, Andy Garson, Stephan Murray, Declan Knox, Dawid Fajks, Callum Wales, Declan Paterson, Lawrie Francey, Ajmir Singh, Sam Lawrie, Daniel Wilson, Gregor Jack.