BLACKS LOSE IN WINDSOR FINAL

After the blues won the morning section of the Windsor tournament for the second year running, the pressure was on the blacks to do well in the afternoon. In the end, they performed brilliantly - despite an amazing run of bad luck with injuries - and did us proud before losing in the final.

We made our usual slow start and lost 1-0 to Windsor Maradona. We were limited to a couple of half-chances to Cammy Brown and our tackling and passing was disappointing. But watching the other games, it was clear that the Windsor were possibly the best team in the group - and we bounced back with a good performance against Tranent Colts to win 2-1.

Cammy Brown played in goal after David had twisted his knee in the first game and we had to reshuffle near the end, when Lloyd dropped back into defence. However, we created a bagful of chances and Lloyd ran clear to slip the ball in to make it 1-0, before Seth crossed well for Euan to make it 2-0. (Euan was helping us out after playing in the morning because we were so short of players). Brandon, who played well up front, and Paul both hit the post and we almost paid for missed chances when Tranent pulled it back to 2-1 and had more chances.

We hung on - but went into the next game against Hillfield Swifts without David and Connor, who were both still hobbling. Ross, who had stayed on since the morning, played in goal and Cammy Brown covered at the back for Connor. Paul put us 1-0 up but we didn't take our chances and they came back to 1-1. We could have been out but Paul produced an absolute cracker into the top corner in the last minute to give us a 2-1 win.

The win was at a price - Jack had jarred his arm, Lloyd had hobbled off - and Seth only played after throwing up!

The way the results fell, we had to win out final group game against Loanhead - they had also beaten Tranent and Hillfield, and got a 0-0 draw with Windsor. David and Connor came back in, and Jack and Lloyd started, but we looked in trouble as they went 1-0 up. We equalised after a brilliant move involving four one-touch passes. Cammy Brown's shot was saved, but Seth squeezed in the rebound. A deflected shot put Loanhead ahead again, but Paul nipped in to score a rebound and then, again right at the death, Euan squeezed in the winner to spark wild celebrations.

Lloyd had hobbled off again towards the end of the Loanhead game, but this time could not play. We missed him in the final and as Euan and Jack tired after playing all day, we lost two eraly goals. The Windsor keeper made a good save from Euan, who then toe-poked another shot just wide. That was our last real chance to get back into the game and a bullet header from a corner made it 3-0 at half-time in the 10-mins-each-way game.

David had to hobble off and Ross came on, but was left exposed as Windsor scored a fourth. He then made an absolutely amazing double save - but his heroics couldn't inspire us at the other end and 4-0 was the final score.

What Ross did do was sum up the fantatsic never-say-die attitude of all the boys - despite all the injuries. Jack and Connor were heroes at the back, and the determination shown today is a great sign for the coming season.

Squad: David, Connor, Jack, Cammy B, Lloyd, Seth, Paul, Brandon, Euan, Ross.