ST Columba’s High School produced a dramatic comeback to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat in a national football competition.

The under-14 team were crowned winners of the Scottish Plate tournament on June 17 after they came back from two goals down with a minute to go against Coatbridge’s St Ambrose High School to level, before going on to win a penalty shoot-out.

It capped a fine campaign for the squad, who were also runners-up in the Fife Cup final, as they battled their way through five rounds to reach the final after being knocked out of the Scottish Cup first round on spot-kicks against Kirkcaldy’s Balwearie High.

The first-round losers in the Scottish Cup enter the Plate tournament and, after edging a hard-fought derby with Woodmill High 2-1, they went on to defeat Kirkcaldy’s St Andrews High School (7-0), Motherwell’s Taylor High School (4-2), Aberdeen Grammar (3-1) and Helensburgh’s Hermitage Academy (2-1) to reach the final.

Liam Carruthers was St Columba’s hero, scoring both goals, and PE teacher and coach Douglas Coulston said: “We beat Woodmill in the opening game and that was probably the hardest game we had along the way to the final.

“We were two down but with a minute to go, we got one back. We threw the kitchen sink at them and then we scored again a minute into injury time. At two-down we were pushing hard in the second half and had chances but they had a few breakaways and our keeper gave us the opportunity to stay in the game. We’d practised penalties in the lead-up to the final and every one was confident and firm. The guys battled hard and the nature of it meant they were buzzing afterwards.

“A few weeks prior to the final, we lost the Fife Cup final to Queen Anne High School, so maybe that spurred them on. They’ve had a great season; they’ve played loads of games and they’ve got a great bond together.”