Elizabethan Cup Final
Panasonic Tavern 2; Bellslea 1.

At the Balmoor Stadium

From the kick off, Bellslea took the game to Pana and had the Panas defence penned back for the first 15 minutes of the match. As the game went on Pana began to press the Bellslea back four and had a few good opportunities to open the scoring. Bellslea's Watt was being closely guarded by Pana's Brown to try and stop the speedy forward from breaking away.

Pana's Evans in goal had more to do in the first half than his counterpart and Pana were lucky to escape a strong penalty claim after Booth had clipped the forward inside the box, but Referee McKenzie waved away the Bellslea claims.

Both teams were now creating some good opportunities with Bellslea delivering some very dangerous crosses into the Pana box which was causing some concern for the home side. Pana's Inglis and Peden both had chances rebound off the Bellsela post when it looked easier to score.

On the stroke of halftime, Pana opened the scoring when good work by Peden fed McNeil on the right, who picked out Hossack, who fired Pana in front.

The second half started just as frantic as the first with Bellslea coming out the traps very quick as they did in the first half and it paid off greatly when Watt was left unmarked form a great cross on the right and he made no mistake with his clinical header.

Now both team had to attack and go for the goal that was possibly going to win it for either side and again great opportunities went amiss form both sides as legs began to tire on the massive Balmoor playing surface.

The second goal was always going to be the decider and it was Pana who struck from the penalty spot through Inglis when McKinnon and been impeded in the box.

Bellsela had nothing to lose now and started to through men forward in numbers to try and get the equaliser which left lots of room for the Pana attackers and Inlgis should have wrapped it up when he was clean through on goal only for this shot to fly wide of the keepers post.
Pana were holding on at the death as Bellslea pushed to force the game into extra time and they should have equalised when the ball fell to Watt again unmarked with the goal gaping, but he blasted wide much to the delight of the Pana defence.

The game had four minutes stoppage time added on and must have felt like 40 for the Pana rearguard as even the Bellslea goalkeeper crept forward to try and assist with getting an equaliser.

But to no avail and Pana held on to lift the Elizabethan Cup for the first time.

Thanks must go to the two teams for the standard of football on display and a credit to the association, also thanks to Peterhead Football Club for the use of Balmoor Stadium and to the sponsors the Elizabethan Lounge in Fraserburgh.