SCOTTISH 6-A-SIDE CUP
Scotland’s Official SAFA Affiliated National 6-a-side cup competition, The Prostar Scottish Cup, was won on Saturday 4th July by Bathgate Sverige FC who picked up a £500 cash prize while Burntisland Galaxy won the secondary Plate competition. The tournament was held at Ochilview Park, Stenhousemuir, and the winners beat off competition from 29 other teams to lift the crown.
The competition was the biggest and certainly the best event so far in the 5 year history of the tournament as teams from throughout Scotland, as far south as Dumfries and as far north as Peterhead, did battle in what was a picture perfect day at Stenhousemuir FC`s Stadium.
The tournament kicked off with defending champions Bo`Ness Real Deal sending out a message to the pretenders to their throne with a 2-0 win over a very strong Bathgate Farcelona side. However, their so-called ‘group of death’ proved to be just that as Bathgate Sverige and Bo’Ness Gauze Roadstar clinched the top two spots undefeated without their goal being breached once. Peterhead Bluetoon, Bo’Ness Happy Mondays, Bathgate YMOT FC and Stenhousemuir FC Ubersleaze also caught the eye as they sailed through the group stages and into the knockout competition.
The last 16 of the Cup competition saw Bo’Ness Real Deal edge out Stenhousemuir Don’t Know following a titanic penalty shootout while Bo’Ness Gauze Roadstar and Bathgate Sverige FC proceeding into the quarter finals without conceding a goal. Peterhead Bluetoon ended Greenock Mainz 05’s challenge while Bo’Ness Happy Mondays produced a superb display to see off Stenhousemuir Gilmours 4-1. Bathgate Real Sosobad kept their dream alive by seeing off Stenhousemuir Cali on penalties and in the tie of the round Bathgate YMOT just pipped Stenhousemuir Young Brig, winning by a single goal in what was a cracking game.
The Quarter Finals saw defending Champions Bo’Ness Real Deal suffer their first cup defeat in three years as they went out to Bathgate YMOT following an epic penalty shoot-out. Another of the Cup’s big names, Bo’Ness Gauze Roadstar, bowed out as they were beaten by Stenhousemuir FC Ubersleaze. Peterhead Bluetooon, the furthest travelled team in the competition, saw their hopes ended as they suffered a narrow defeat against Bo’Ness Happy Mondays and in the last of the four quarter finals Bathgate Sverige edged out fellow Bathgate side Real Sosobad in a cracking derby match.
Bathgate Sverige were the first team to reach the final as they saw off Stenhousemuir Ubersleaze 1-0 in what was a very closely fought encounter and they were joined in the final by Bo’Ness Happy Mondays for whom Craig Sneddon produced the performance of the day as his hat-trick secured a 3-0 victory against Bathgate YMOT.
The final was a tense affair with very little in it until Bathgate Sverige broke the deadlock after five minutes. The match entered the 2nd half and Bo’Ness Happy Mondays worked desperately to find the equaliser and thought they had found it but a strong penalty claim was waved away. They pinned Sverige back and with just minutes remaining they were already celebrating an equaliser as a rasping 15 yard effort beat the Sverige keeper only for the ball to rocket off the post and along the goal line before rolling to safety. This was the final chance for Mondays and soon after the whistle went as Sverige celebrated their triumph and Mondays were left disconsolate on the pitch.
The Plate competition, which runs alongside the Cup for teams knocked out in the group stages, saw Dunfermline Burntisland Galaxy and Bathgate Farcelona proceed to the final with victories against Dumfries Boyaca Chico and Linlithgow Boca Youngsters respectively in the semi finals.
The Plate final was a very tight affair with few clear cut chances and it took a penalty to separate the sides as Dunfermline Burntisland Galaxy went 1-0 up. Running on empty, Bathgate Farcelona had no reply and Galaxy hung on to secure the Plate title.
Competition organiser, Stephen Mullane, paid tribute to the match officials and all teams who had taken part in the competition as he commented, ‘The match officials deserve a huge pat on the back as they did a superb job in ensuring all games were efficiently refereed today. All of the teams who took part in the tournament were very sporting and matches were played in exactly the right spirit which is what the competition is all about. The day was a massive success and Stadium Manager Danny Paterson and his staff did an amazing job again in hosting the tournament which is likely now to remain at Ochilview Park for years to come as we have built up a superb relationship over the past few years. Congratulations to Bathgate Sverige FC for ending Bo’Ness Real Deal’s hold on the competition and well done also to Dunfermline Burntisland Galaxy for winning the Plate tournament at their first attempt.’