INVERKEITHING Hillfield Swifts added another trophy to the club’s extensive cabinet recently when their 2004s won the Fife Cup in their first season in 11-a-side football.

The talented team, coached by the Swifts’ vice-chairman, Craig Reid, edged a classic Fife Football Development League (FFDL) final against Blue Brazil at Thornton Hibs’ Memorial Park on sudden death penalties after a keenly-contested 2-2 draw.

The game, which took place last month, came after the Swifts’ 2003s were also crowned Kingdom kings when they defeated Kennoway United in their final in May.

The under-13 side began their season with a 6-0 defeat to their opponents in the league but came out on top in the end-of-season showpiece, and thrilled Craig said: “To reach their first cup final and then win it, at their first year at 11-a-side, is no mean feat. There were a lot of nerves but the boys handled it better than the coaches!

“We had to score our fifth one to win but missed it, then it went to sudden death. It was a classic between two prominent Fife teams but, during the game, the consensus was that we were the stronger side on the night.

“We played Blue Brazil three times before and never managed to beat them; in the first game of the season, we lost 6-0, so we managed to narrow the gap. The team have progressed so much and to turn it around and pick the cup up was a massive achievement and fantastic for the boys.”

He continued: “The guys taking the penalties were as cool as a cucumber but I was a nervous wreck at the end! It was an end-to-end encounter so to get it over and done with was great.

“From a Swifts perspective, it’s another Fife Cup; the 2003s won theirs and the 2002s took the league to penalties but lost. It’s testament to the development policy we have at the club.

“It’s underestimated how much of an impact a good season can have on these kids. They’ll always have the memory; the experience you take from it and the social impact stays with you forever.

“It was a great way to win a final.”