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Blairdardie United v Blantyre at Benburb FC

11am  27 May 2017

Glasgow and District Saturday Morning League, League Cup Final at Benburb FC
Blairdardie United 6 Blantyre 0 (att 65)

This seemed rather low key for a cup final. Just before kick off there was only a handful of people inside the ground, but the numbers swelled as the game got underway, and my rough head count was a bigger crowd than the last time I watched this final.

Three years ago, when I saw Invac win the trophy, it was staged at Colville Park. This time the venue was Govan-based junior club Benburb's new home, New Tinto Park, built immediately adjacent to 'old' Tinto Park, that's now covered by housing.

The old ground was one of the most atmospheric in non League football, dominated by a huge covered terrace. The new ground suffers from inevitable comparisons to its predecessor, but does at least have plenty of seats, something the old ground lacked, even if they're open to the elements.

Luckily for the cup final crowd the threatened rain didn't arrive, and we watched as Blairdardie comfortably added to the league cup to the premier division title they'd already won, against division one Blantyre.

The underdogs started the game well, coming close to scoring and hitting the crossbar, but their failure to take any of their chances cost them when Blairdardie went ahead before half time.

The second half was one-way traffic. Blairdardie scored twice in two minutes right at the start of the half, and from then on it was just a matter of how many more they'd get. They finished with six, but could easily have scored three or four more.










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