News Detail » Tollcross Thistle AFC Win The 2019/20 Only Sport Scottish Amateur Cup
2019-2020 Kappa and Only Sport Scottish Amateur Centenary Cup Final
Drumchapel Amateurs 4
Tollcross Thistle 4 (AET)
Tollcross Thistle win 3-2 on penalties
Last night, Edinburgh’s Tollcross Thistle staged a remarkable fight-back to win the Scottish Amateur Cup at Hampden in the Centenary Final of the amateur game’s most treasured prize. The Covid-delayed final was a wonderful advert for grassroots football.
Drumchapel stormed into a 3-0 interval lead after a thoroughly dominant first half display. They totally bossed the opening 45 minutes, better than their opponents all across the pitch. Indeed, such was the Drum’s superiority Tollcross didn’t even register a shot on target during that opening period.
Goals from Jamie Ross, Connor Higgins and Alan Kelly sent the large Drum following into delirium as they swept into a much-deserved 3-0 lead.
With most onlookers believing the game was already dead and buried, on the re-start a revitalised Tollcross suddenly started to display the form that had taken them to the final.
Skipper, Stewart O’Neill gave Thistle hope with an early strike to make it 3-1. A powerful header from defender Ciaran Duffy after 65 minutes brought the score to 3-2 and suddenly gave hope to the men from the East.
As the game moved into added time it still seemed likely the Drum would hold on to their slender lead. With the game in the final seconds of the last of the 4 added minutes, dramatically Tollcross were awarded a penalty after a clear infringement in the area.
Stewart O’Neill kept his composure to slam the spot kick high into the net to send the game into extra-time.
3 minutes in, talisman striker, Michael Yuill rifled Tollcross into a 4-3 lead with a stunning strike into the top corner.
With the momentum now with the Edinburgh side, Drumchapel demonstrated their own strength of character by fighting back almost immediately to draw level at 4-4. Long-serving player, David Forbes pounced to net following a corner.
The game still delivered more drama when Drumchapel were reduced to 10 men with a late red card.
In the penalty shoot-out, Chris Moffat and David Forbes netted for Drumchapel, with Stewart O’Neill, Scott Millar and Chris Cairns all scoring for Tollcross. It was goalkeeper, Matty Baines who became the Tollcross hero. He denied Drumchapel with two brilliant stops to see Tollcross edge the shoot-out 3-2 to spark wonderful scenes of celebration for the Edinburgh Club.