Wednesday 10th May 2023 Portlethen S1 vs Cults S1 Green Final Trophy Final Match Report

Report on Cults Academy First Year v Portlethen Academy First Year, Green Final Trophy Final, Wednesday 10th May 2023, by Walter Craig

Portlethen Blow Cults Away in the Opening Quarter to Secure the Trophy

Cults Academy First Year
Marcus Vila Domini O’Kennedy, Calum Wood, Keiran Milne, Harry Strachan, Tyler Ferguson, Oliver MacDonald, Callum Mackay, Luke Brodie, Maurycy Sipoerski, Orfu Ogah, Chidumebi Christopher, Davie Howie, Samuel Pearson, Caelan McKechnie, Matthew Craig, Theo Macaskill and Charlie McLuckie.

Portlethen Academy First Year
Freddie Lauterbach, Aaron Young, Finlay Parker, Daniel Young, Ryan Lawrie, Ryan Reeves, Lewis Szczerba, Reiss Mitchell, Mac Mathieson, Bailey Cran, Cillian Cameron, Jaxon Martin, Harris Wilson, Forbes Johnson, Archie Cowan and John Cullion.

Referee B. Eden

Cults Academy met Portlethen Academy at Lochside Astro in the final of the Green Final Trophy. The coastal haar which had been around since early morning was still present as Cults kicked off playing towards the school end. Both teams looked lively early on and Ryan Reeves of Portlethen was caught narrowly offside as he bore down on goal. He kept an eye on the Cults defensive line in the third minute, however, as he gathered a long diagonal Crossfield pass. No defender could keep up with him and he slotted the ball beyond the reach of Marcus O’Kennedy and into the net.

Portlethen were on a run at this point, being particularly dangerous on their right flank, and Cults had cause to thank their keeper, the man of the match in their Semi Final against Albyn, for ensuring that the score remained at one nil as he brought off some excellent stops.

The most notable save came after Mac Mathieson had run from midfield leaving Cults defenders in his wake and his shot looked net bound until O’Kennedy got to it.

His achilles heel was to cost him dearly, though, in the fourteenth minute. The referee had already noticed his tendency to come outside the penalty box when clearing from hand and when he strayed over the line once more an indirect free kick was awarded. Reeves took the kick and passed the ball to Mathieson who found just enough space to rattle a twenty-yard drive into the far corner with O’Kennedy having no chance to put a hand on it.

Cults had begun to come into things and to their credit did not let the goal railroad their efforts so to do. Portlethen were in no mood to take their foot off the pedal, however, and a third goal arrived twelve minutes from the interval. An attack down the left saw Cillian Cameron collect the ball just inside the box. He made his way past a couple of defenders before shooting well beyond O’Kennedy with the ball entering the net via the far post.

Cults, despite their efforts in the last ten minutes of the half, when they won a corner and two free kicks in dangerous positions, could not penetrate the Portlethen defence and the break arrived leaving them with a lot of work to do.

Half Time: Cults Academy First Year 0 - 3 Portlethen Academy First Year

Cults began the second period in positive fashion, but the final outcome of the game was to be decided in a crazy thirty second spell.

Within two minutes, Caelan McKechnie found himself clear of the Portlethen defence as he ran from halfway towards the goal. Freddie Lauterbach was alert, however, and he raced smartly from his goal to block the striker’s attempt with his feet. The ball was hastily cleared upfield and found Reeves in space on the ring wing. The midfielder hurried past a couple of challenges and drove the ball wide of O’Kennedy to send Portlethen four goals to the good.

Cults were really up against it now and worse was to follow six minutes later. A fine run on the right by substitute Harris Wilson ended with a stunning shot from twenty yards which screamed over the keeper for arguably the goal of the game.

Another fine save by Lauterbach from McKechnie was followed by Cults having an even better chance to get on the scoresheet in sixteen minutes. A right-wing attack moved into the box and after contact was made the referee awarded a penalty kick. McKechnie took it himself and this time sent the ball low well beyond Lauterbach and into the corner of the net.

Cults certainly deserved their goal, but it did not take Portlethen long to restore their five goal advantage. A corner from the left resulted in a bit of pinball in the six-yard box. The ball eventually popped up nicely for Reiss Mitchell who nodded it strongly over the line.

The final five minutes were played out quietly with the temperature rising and the haar lifting. Tired legs were the dominant factor at this stage as it had been a hard-fought game. Portlethen were worthy winners, but Cults can take credit for their fighting spirit, particularly when the match was not going their way. Overall, though, the game was decided in the first fifteen minutes when Cults struggled to cope with Portlethen’s whirlwind start.

Final Score: Cults Academy First Year 1 - 6 Portlethen Academy First Year