We bowed out of the Scottish Youth Cup at the first attempt on Sunday afternoon despite a late siege on the visitors’ goal.

The Rosewell side included several players with experience of playing in the Lowland League, while it was a more youthful Cowden line up with eligible first team players Cammy Muirhead, Ryan Connelly and Ali Smith not taking part.

Cowden almost made a breakthrough with just two minutes on the clock when Jack Cowan took advantage of slack defending but his shot was saved by Jardine.

Harris Kay then tried his luck with a long range shot which went just wide of the post.

However it was the visitors who opened the scoring with 21 minutes gone from the penalty spot.

Hamish Thomson brought down Lee BARRETT on the edge of the box and he picked himself up to slot home the resultant spot kick.

Minutes later Knox had a good chance to increase Whitehill’s lead when he was set up by Swanson but he sent his shot wide.

Three minutes into the second half we got back on level terms when Harris KAY shot home from 14 yards.

However the visitors restored their advantage in 55 minutes when Currie parried a shot from Murray but the rebound came off Jordan LESLIE as he attempted to clear and rolled into the net.

Two minutes later Welfare went further ahead when GREG PARK got on the end of a Barrett free kick at the back post to head home.

Nine minutes later we reduced the deficit from the penalty spot when when McIntyre shoved Brown in the box and Jack COWAN fired home from the penalty spot.

The visitors were reduced to ten men in 69 minutes when Murray was red carded for an off the ball incident.

The closing stages saw us go all out for an equaliser and Jardine done well to turn a Thomson header over the bar, while a cross from Watt fell to Cowan at the back post but his header came off the upright.

Whitehill will now meet fellow Lowland League side East Kilbride in the second round after their 4-1 win over Airdrie at K-Park.
 

TEAM: Penman, Watt, Kellichan, Thomson, Leslie, Kay, Brown, Henderson, Cowan, Marks (McManus 80) & Turnbull (McMurchie 78).

WHITEHILL: Jardine, Robertson, Brockie, Watson, McIntyre, Murray, Lloyd (Reynolds 78), Park, Knox (Stirving 75) , Swanson & Barrett. Subs not used –Rutherford, Wishart & Ramsay.