Broxburn Colts Under 21s - Season 2001/2002

 

The Under 21s started the season with a much changed and younger squad than the previous year.

 

On the first day of the season they had a great league win beating  Scottish Cup finalists Edina Hibs 4-3 away.  The first 5 league games resulted in 3 wins, 1 draw and 1 defeat and they then embarked on a series of cup ties between the months October 2001 and March 2002. 

 

During that period they beat Eskmills (5-2 away) in the East of Scotland Cup, lost (4-3 away) to Girdie Toll B.C. in the Scottish Cup.  The Scottish Cup tie was a huge disappointment and would have resulted in a win had the team applied themselves properly, early in the game.  This defeat however, meant that they automatically dropped into the prestigious Lady Darling Cup but before that tie they defeated Cavalry Park (3-0 away) in the Fife & Lothians Cup.

 

Glasgow Thistle were the visitors in the Lady Darling Cup and the Colts struck top form to run out 6-0 winners.  They needed this good performance to take them into the following weeks meeting with Edina Hibs in the Willie Bauld Cup (Colts won this trophy in the season 1999/2000 and were keen to do well again).  The match proved to be a tight encounter and although Colts took the lead in the game, injuries to two players during the game meant that they went down 2-1.

 

Defeats in both the Willie Johnston Cup & Lady Darling Cup followed and the team's confidence began to suffer a bit.  Bad weather meant that the team didn't play between the middle of December and 19th January, when they were again in Cup action in an East of Scotland Cup, quarter final, away to Civil Service Strollers.  A great team performance earned a 2-1 win against an in form team and as luck would have it they again faced the Strollers the following week in a home quarter-final of the John Murphy Cup.  Strollers were again in good form but the Colts were in "battling" mood and run out 3-2 winners after extra time.  Bad weather again meant game postponements and it was another month before they travelled to meat Easthouses in a League game.  The Colts were 2 goals down at half time but rallied in the second half to make it 2 each and looked favourites to win the game.  However, a good chance to make it 3-2 was wasted and in the end individual errors resulted in a 5-2 defeat.  Another shaky league display away to Bonnyrigg Rose resulted in a 2-2 draw although Colts had ld 2-1 with only seconds to be played in the match.

 

A Fife & Lothians Cup tie at home to Easthouses, resulted in a 4-1 defeat although Colts had competed well most of the game. Easthouses proved to be a real "jinx" team throughout the season and Colts were to suffer 2 more defeats at their hands before the season ended - 2-1 at home in the League, and 5-1 in an East of Scotland Cup semi-final at Albyn Park, Broxburn.  

 

Colts did reach the final of the John Murphy Cup by defeating a strong St. Bernards team 2-1 in the semi.  This was a hugely satisfying win as St Bernards had won both league games against the Colts.  A tremendous team performance was rewarded by a cup-final appearance. 

 

In the lead up to the John Murphy Cup Final, league form proved to be indifferent and despite some good performances from time to time individual errors proved to be costly.  Colts had to settle for 5th place in the East of Scotland "A" division.

 

The climax of the season came on 1st June when Colts met North Merchiston in the John Murphy Cup final at Saughton Enclosure.  Unfortunately it didnt prove to be a day for celebrations as the team were beaten by a much sharper side on the day, conceding 3 goals within the first ten minutes of the first half.  A more spirited performance in the second half didnt effect the end result.  

 

In the end the season overall proved to be a bit of a disappointment giving the good start in the first 5 league games.  Perhaps the team were lulled into a false sense of security after their surprisingly good start and it should be kept in mind that there were a lot of new faces this season.  On reflection 5th position in such a highly competitive league and an appearance in a Cup final, with such a new squad, wasn't a bad season. 

 

A number of players are too old to play again next season and the Club wish them all the best for the future.  They are:

Jamie Halliday (who has been with the club since U16), Gavin Wallace, Steven Manson, Martin Hood & Tommy Mann.  They could all do a job for a junior team.