Bonnyrigg Rose YPL Manson win 16s ScottishPower Youth Challenge Cup

YPL cup winners Bonnyrigg Rose have added the ScottishPower Youth Challenge Cup after a thrilling 2-1 16s final win against East Fife at Ainslie.

The first half was ruled by both teams’ defences, after both goalkeepers had been called into action early. On 12 minutes Beatrix Haydix in the Bonnyrigg goal made a cool reaction save from a point-blank shot after a corner, and then at the other end Morven Rowe flicked a clever ball over and crossed but India Shaw in the East Fife goal did well to smother.

Bonnyrigg’s Riley Hamilton was a presence up front, but East Fife’s defence were tracking back efficiently and there was good rhythm and composure to their play, forward Marley Harrow linking well with Sophie Band coming in from the right, but it was goalless at the break.

East Fife started the second period livelier, but it was Bonnyrigg who broke the deadlock on 55 minutes, Rowe rising well to meet a cross and send the ball into the top corner. Two minutes later Emeliah Wilson added a second with an emphatic strike from the edge of the box which Shaw got a hand to but couldn’t keep out. Shaw did keep Neve McKeekin out on 62 minutes, and East Fife rallied.

Marley Harrow pulled one back for the Fifers on 75 minutes, showing great composure to latch onto a through ball and put it past Haydix. With the momentum swung back, Bonnyrigg needed to show all their game management to see out the remaining five minutes and clinch their cup double.