Report

City lost out in this their 2nd Cup Final of the season to a determined Whitehill Welfare outfit who were out for revenge after losing the Image Printers final against the Citezens early in December. A Scott McCulloch strike with only 4 minutes of normal time remaining broke the deadlock after Shaun Harrison was robbed of possession by Andrew Kidd on the edge of his own penalty area and when the ball broke to McCulloch he rifled an unstoppable shot from 25yards off the underside of the bar giving City keeper Stobie no chance. The game was evenly balanced in the first half with neither goalkeeper seriously tested, although there was plenty of goalmouth action for the crowd to savour as the game flew from end to end. City were forced into an early change when Kenny Ross was replaced by Paul Devlin with the former having not fully recovered from a whacking to his rib-cage the previous week.There was drama after 55 minutes when City's Ruaraidh Scott made an out of character lunge at the impressive Whitehill full back Alan Brown on the half-way line and referee Brian Colvin had no hesitation in showing Scott a straight red card. City who had began the second period with a greater sense of urgency needed to re-group and against a Whitehill side being driven on from their touchline somehow actually managed to start passing the ball with more care as the match was evenly poised. A tenacious run from Ian McFarland was stopped by the Whitehill defence which was superbly marshalled by ex Meadowbank defender Michael Bruce and Rosewell captain Willie Kidd. Stevie Manson then raced down the right wing and his cross bounced off the knees of Gormley and the ball rolled past the post. Welfare's Aaron Sommerville then went close when he hit the side netting, and young Andrew Stobie in the City goal held a net bound Gormley lob. City created their best chance of the match when Devlin picked out a great run from striker Robbie Ross however on this occassion the normally reliable City No.9 failed to get the power behind the shot to trouble Welfare keeper Darren Walker. City fought hard to take the game into added on time however McCulloch's strike in the 86th minute put an end to this as the burden of playing with ten men took it's toll. Three minutes into stoppage time a short back pass from Bain to keeper Stobie gave Gormley the invitation to race through on goal where he was adjudjed to have  been upended by the City keeper on the edge of the penalty area. Stobie was given a straight red card and although the decision seemed a trifle harsh, replacement keeper Jamie Bain was beaten by Gormley's free kick to seal the League Cup heading back to Rosewell. F-T 0-2