06/05/2016  |  League Cup

East Kilbride   2  v  0  Cumbernauld Colts

With fourth place in the Lowland League secured by Tuesday night's win over Whitehill, the Colts headed to K-Park to face East Kilbride hoping for victory and an end to their maiden season as a Senior club with a cup final.

Missing a number of players through injury already there was a blow for the visitors as they lost Black, influential in midfield of late, in the warmup. Thankfully, with a stretched squad, the Colts have plenty of quality in their development squad to call upon and youngsters Fraser Sheridan, Jeff Fergus and Ryan Milne joined regular Kenny Giles on the Colts bench.

Both teams started reasonably well, Colts looking to pass the ball with the home side looking to take a more direct route and reward for that approach after only five minutes, though there was a massive slice of good fortune about it. A long ball over the top found the prolific Smith who took a touch away from goal with Fahey coming out to face him. Running wide the striker went to ground under little, if any, contact. Unfortunately for the Colts though, the man in the middle showed signs of the afternoon it was going to be as he pointed to the spot, the Colts players furious with the decision, plenty of reason to feel aggrieved.

The home side weren't complaining though, never look a gift horse in the mouth, the skipper stepping up to slot beyond Fahey for 1-0.

As the half wore on a familiar pattern developed, Colts trying to play out from the back but unable to create anything that could be described as a chance, two Kirwan deliveries from the right with no takers and a strike from distance as close as they came, the home side looking far more dangerous as the Broadwood men continually failed to deal with long balls forward. Normally a team who play good football themselves, Kilby sensed the weakness and made the long diagonal their default ball. Such was the inability to deal with it in the Colts defence they could hardly be blamed.

There was further bad news in the first half for the Colts, with the influential Broadfoot caught in a midfield challenge and badly injuring his ankle. Unable to continue it meant an enforced change after 20 minutes with youngster Fraser Sheridan coming on to make his senior debut, his assured performance throughout one of the few bright spots on the day for the visitors.

Chances came and went for the home side, the best of them falling to Hastings who tried to chip Fahey, the Colts fortunate to go in at half time just the one down following a lacklustre performance more fitting of an end of season runout than a cup semi-final. Still, if not for a poor decision it could have been 0-0.

At half time there was more to celebrate for the young guns in the squad though as Fergus replaced Duncan for the second half.

In the opening five minutes it looked as though the Colts might mount a challenge but again they struggled to create anything of note in the final third. Neat and tidy football through their own and the middle third then little of note in the attacking third somewhat a summary of their afternoon.

And the tie was dead as a contest early, a poorly defended free kick from the Colts left as Ramsey got his clearance wrong and presented Brady with the ball 25 yards out. Brady took a touch and drilled left footed beyond Fahey through a host of bodies.

From there the home side had a couple of opportunities to extend their lead, the most noteworthy a free kick effort from 10 yards inside their own half which nearly caught Fahey unaware, the keeper racing back to get fingertips over the top.

The Colts keeper though picked up a knock, their third and final change another Senior competitive debut for one of their Under 20's graduates, Kenny Giles coming on in goal to see out the final 15 minutes or so of the game.

2-0 it finished, penalty decision aside the home side well worth their win as a well below par Colts end the season with a performance not in keeping with what they have achieved in their debut season. Good luck to Kilby in the final!

On the day the main positive that they finished with three under 20's on the field, all three showing up well against one of the top sides in the Lowland League.

Overall though a debut season to be proud of for the Colts, the players deserving huge credit for their efforts having been thrown together quickly only weeks before the season started. Fourth in the table, breaching the 50 point mark, a semi-final and a Scottish Cup run that saw them make the 3rd round, beating Junior giants Auchinleck Talbot in the process.

There have been some real highs (and a few lows) during the course of the season, but it's certainly been an enjoyable one for all connected at the Colts. Thanks for your support and to the other Clubs in the league for such a warm welcome, we hope to see you all again next season. Roll on August!