YFS Magazine Issue 1 | Page 54

[SOUTHWEST] SEASON 2013 54 | YFS Magazine | Issue #1 JANUARY The 2013 kicked off amidst an avalanche of postponements in the South West and mixed fortunes in the SYFA Scottish Cup. Ayrshire side Beith Juniors lost out 1-0 to Burnhead Colts in the Scottish Cup at under 13s level while other sides including Glenafton Athletic 19s and Craigie UTD 15s marched on, as did Bonnyton Thistle under 19s, looking to be the only South West-based side to win three on the bounce (albeit plying their trade in the Glasgow and District YFL). League games took somewhat of a backseat as the Scottish Cup took centre stage in importance and previous call offs. The Dumfries and Galloway Youth League was the most active; Lochar Thistle bounced back from their home defeat to Mid Annandale with a convincing win over Greystone Rovers while Annan Athletic kept up the pace with a 2-1 win against Lochar Thistle 15s. FEBRUARY Leagues across the South West began to get back into full swing after call offs and the winter break. The Dumfries and Galloway Youth League was the most active; Heston Rovers held league challengers Mid Annandale to a draw while 13s’ league rivals Lochar Thistle won very convincingly against Dalbeattie Star. In the 15s league we saw Annan Athletic slump to a 2-1 defeat to Greystone Rovers which meant they lost ground to Terregles, who beat St Cuthbert Wanderers 6-1. MARCH There were two 11-goal games in March in the Dumfries and Galloway Youth League at 13s level with Heston Rovers and Lochar Thistle triumphing over Dalbeattie Star and Annan Athletic respectively. At 17s the three-horse race for the title was all but reduced to two when Heston Rovers beat Threave Rovers in Threave and Lochar Thistle also picked up three points on the road. League Cup action was the focus in the West of Scotland YFL (WOSYFL) as league leaders Ardrossan Winton Rovers beat Cumnock Juniors 4-1 in the William Taylor Trophy Quarter Final in the 19s age group while Valspar BC and Caledonian Youth sealed their passage into the 14s’ Barr Holmes Construction Cup final. In the Scottish Cup, Tass 16s’ journey came to a painful end in the semi-final with a 4-0 defeat against highly-rated Tynecastle. One finalist in the 19s President’s Cup Final was decided as Crosshouse defeated Caledonian while the 16s Wallace Gemmell Trophy Final was also decided with Southside and Valspar coming out on top. Tass were the team defeated by Southside, multiplying the north Ayrshire outfit’s pain for the month. APRIL In the Scottish Cup, Ayr Boswell and Southside FC continued to win at 16s level as did Glenafton Athletic and Bonnyton Thistle, the latter developing into an interesting march towards a possible final that would be full of personal rivalry. Glenafton also advanced into the final of the 19s President’s Cup with a 3-1 win over Hurlford BC and would go on to win the trophy, beating Crosshouse at Dam Park. Staying with the 19s, the finalists of the William Taylor Trophy were decided – Valspar and Ardrossan Winton Rovers. Southside grabbed their first silverware of what would turn out to be an historic season with a 5-1 win over Tass Rovers in the Sport & Rainwear Cup Final and then beat Valspar a week later in the Wallace Gemmell Trophy. In Dumfries and Galloway, Annan Athletic won the Annan derby with a five-star performance – a 5-0 win over Annan Athletic Colts. Irvine Meadow continued to impress in the CAYFA 14s division and looked like inevitable champions. MAY May is the month of moments: