Greenlaw 4-1 Gordon: Greenlaw win Waddell Cup

Greenlaw bring the Waddell Cup back home after beating Border Amateur League rivals Gordon 4-1 in the final at Happer Park. Picture by Kimberley Powell

William Smillie scored twice as Greenlaw ended a 35-year wait to win the Waddell Cup in a thrilling final at Happer Park.

In front of a large crowd of more than 300, the Berwickshire side needed two late goals to secure victory and win their own trophy for the first time since 1979.

After losing to Gala Rovers in last year’s final, Lawrie Dunn’s men were determined to make sure they didn’t pass up another opportunity to win their own trophy after such a long wait.

The final score may have flattered them, but the Division A side certainly deserved their win for their stout defending and clinical finishing.

On a wet afternoon at Greenlaw’s home ground, chances were few and far between in an evenly-contested opening 40 minutes. But two goals suddenly arrived in as many minutes.

Smillie collected Robin Brown’s beautifully clipped through-ball to put the hosts ahead five minutes before half time with a neat lob over Gordon goalkeeper Chris Anderson.

But Gordon went straight up the other end to equalise when former Greenlaw midfielder Alan Redpath fired home a loose ball from 14 yards.

It was 1-1 at half time, but Dean Carruthers found space on the right and squared for strike partner Smillie to side-foot home his second goal ten minutes after the interval. It was another composed finish.

Greenlaw win the Waddell Cup by beating Gordon 4-1 in the final.

Gordon pushed forward in search of an equaliser, but with Greenlaw defending well they struggled to carve out any clear-cut chances.

Player-manager Craig Livingstone, who was struggling with an injury, brought himself on for the last 15 minutes.

But with time running out and Gordon piling more men forward, Greenlaw were able to hit on the break.

Two goals in the last ten minutes sealed victory. Chris Robertson, who impressed all afternoon, fired home from 16 yards to make it 3-1, and it was all over when his low cross from the left was turned in by Carruthers with a superb side-foot volley from eight yards.

When the final whistle sounded Greenlaw didn’t care how wet it was. As corks popped open in celebration, the rain stopped and there was bubbly in the air.

“It feels amazing,“ said Greenlaw manager Lawrie Dunn. “It feels like destiny.”

Greenlaw: D Catlin, R Smillie, M Long, D Knox, M Patton (J Paterek 65), R Brown, A Whellans, S Spoor, W Smillie (A Smith 87), C Robertson, D Carruthers (T Hume 87). Subs not used: L Dunn, E Thorburn.

Gordon: C Anderson, G Redpath, A Brown, A Redpath, E Brown, J Martin, D Simpson (C Livingstone 75), G Brown, K Utterson, A Jackson (S Kinghorn 58), G Gillie. Subs not used: D Townsend, S Black, A Baird.