Dunbar United 1 Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts 2, East of Scotland Qualifying Cup final

AARON WOOD and Ben Finnan were the goal heroes as Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts lifted the East of Scotland Qualifying Cup against Dunbar United this afternoon.

Six years after the club formed a senior team to play in the East of Scotland League, they claimed their first silverware after an historic 90 minutes at Newtongrange Star FC's New Victoria Park.

Wood opened the scoring with a superb looping header over Dunbar keeper Sean Brennan in the 12th minute to give Swifts the lead, which Finnan doubled with a fine strike from outside the box six minutes later.

Dunfermline Press: The Swifts were playing in their first cup final since their senior team was launched in 2018.The Swifts were playing in their first cup final since their senior team was launched in 2018. (Image: Newsquest.)

Jason McCrindle's team had the better of the first half, with their goalkeeper Michael Gibb relatively untroubled, but they had to dig deep after the break.

Dunbar enjoyed more of the play in the second period and substitute Sean Stewart came close when he fired into the side netting after a fine turn and shot.

With 17 minutes to go, the Seasiders from East Lothian were handed a lifeline when they were awarded a penalty after the referee deemed Taylor Hendry to have been felled, and he stepped up to send Gibb the wrong way from 12 yards.

Another Dunbar sub, Brandon Archibald, set Swifts nerves jangling when he hit the upright from inside the penalty area, before Gibb gathered the loose ball, as they pushed for an equaliser.

However, after seven minutes of stoppage time was played, the full-time whistle was blown to spark joyous scenes amongst the Swifts players, coaching team, committee and supporters, many of whom were youngsters who are affiliated to the club at various age groups.

Captain Callum Deas, who picked up the trophy, told Press Sport post-match: "It means everything.

"It's the first cup final and first trophy with the club. Brilliant and, to get the honour of captaining the side, what more could you ask for?"

Finnan said: "I'm absolutely buzzing.

"We're struggling in the (league) season, but to get a cup, that's us going to kick on. We're going to kick on, I know we are.

"What a reaction from the boys today. It's brilliant. I'm buzzing to get a cup and hopefully that's us kicking on for the rest of the season."

Wood commented: "I'm buzzing for the boys and the club.

"We put a lot of effort into it. You could tell at the end a few boys were pulling up with cramp and stuff like that, but I thought we thoroughly deserved it.

"Second half they camped us in, but I thought we did enough in the first half, and the early stages of the second half, to win the game."

Proud boss McCrindle added: "I'm just really pleased for the guys, really pleased for everybody connected with the club.

"We met today at 10 o'clock and it was a big occasion, in terms of the videos that we got and the support from the younger age groups in the pathway, but we obviously had to make sure that we just concentrated on the game.

"But, for everybody connected with the club, that have put so much into this, I'm absolutely delighted for them."