Youths: West End United chase league and Cup double

Having wrapped up the Division One title earlier this month, Lee Watson’s side are looking to make it a clean sweep of trophies and they did their prospects of securing at least a double no harm at all with this commanding victory over their Group A opponents.

They only had to wait 30 seconds to break the deadlock when David Robertson volleyed in at the back post from a Kenny Burns cross, having received a pass from David Caesar.

Stewart Brown then tried to chip Partizan player-manager Mark Peacock in goal but the keeper made himself tall and was able to gather.

Paul Lindsay then had a great opportunity to double the lead when his header crept inches past the post from a Caesar cross, before Gary Lipscombe registered Partizan’s first shot on target with an effort that was hit straight at Steven Syme.

On 18 minutes, West End grabbed a deserved second when Brown beat the offside trap to slide home, before a Brad Smith cross for Partizan was met by the head of Shawn Schofield who sent a header wide of the post.

Gordon McCreadie then latched on to a throw-in from Brown and sent a rasping effort into the top corner of the net on 22 minutes to give West End a comfortable lead.

Partizan then had two quick chances in succession, Lipscombe’s snap shot went over the bar having intercepted a Dean Anderson pass before David Johnstone went close from inside the 15 yard box.

Lipscombe had Partizan’s best chance of the first half and his pile-driver from 25 yards on 37 minutes was tipped behind by Syme.

United suffered a blow at the start of the second half when Caesar suffered a knee injury and had to be replaced by James Ketchin.

The fourth goal however arrived on 55 minutes when West End were awarded a free-kick for a handball and Burns curled his free-kick into the top corner.

Smith almost scored with a similar type of free-kick at the other end when the ball appeared to get caught in the wind and Syme had to watch it go just past his left-hand post.

But Partizan did grab a late consolation that their efforts deserved, Smith finishing from an acute angle from ten yards on 82 minutes.

West End however had the game wrapped up well before then and are the only team to have taken full points from both their matches in the Division One League Cup Group Section.

West End United: Steven Syme, David Penrice, Paul Lindsay, Dean Anderson, Sean McAllister, Scott McCluskey, David Caesar, Kenny Burns, Gordon McCreadie, David Robertson, Stewart Brown, Kevin Dunn, James Ketchin, Scott Sutherland.

Partizan FC: Mark Peacock, William Stewart, Stuart Innes, David MacPherson, Ryan Meikle, Brad Smith, Shawn Schofield, Darren Lackie, Gary Lipscombe, David Johnstone, David Anderson, Kerr Millar, Brad Byrne, Mark McCrudden.