Dunfermline Athletic girls lift 16s Performance Cup

Dunfermline Athletic girls have secured some early 2025 silverware by lifting the 16s Youth Performance League Cup after a thrilling 4-2 win in the final against Dundee West at the Indodrill Stadium in Alloa.

A brace from Sarah Thomson and goals from Lola Wilmhurst and Sophia Lawson gave the Pars silverware in their second season at Youth Performance level.

There were some early nerves on show, the first real chance falling to Dundee striker Kaydi Smith who latched onto a poor passback in the Pars defence but couldn’t convert.

Pivotal Dundee midfielder Millie Garrick Orr and winger Kasey Fleming were engaged in a physical joust on the near side to contain Pars left winger Lola Wilmhurst, which led the referee to have a word with both sides after ten minutes.

Dunfermline were sending some good balls forward, but the Pars attackers were hitting early chances straight the assured-looking India Shaw in goals for the West.

But on the fifteen-minute mark, a forward ball straight from Pars keeper Macie Grieve evaded the Dundee defenders and Sarah Thomson showed good composure to slot it past the onrushing Shaw for the opener.

Garrick Orr found herself increasingly pushed back as the Dunfermline midfield started to impose themselves on the game, and Lola Wilmhurst added a second as half time approached, after Shaw kept her shot out but she headed in the resultant corner to give her side a 2-0 lead at half-time.

Dundee West came were awarded an early penalty after a coming together in the box and Natasha Towell showed good composure to convert past a diving Grieve who had gone the right way.

The goal served to open up the game for a spell, with both sides making breaks at either end and Dundee enjoying more service to their wingers, buoyed by an reanimated support.

Dunfermline’s Olivia Fisher broke forward to win a corner, but the Pars attackers couldn’t meet it, while at the other end Smith looked certain to score before Emily Wilson nicked it off her foot. Wilson then cleared a floating ball off the line moments later to keep Dundee frustrated.

At the other end, Thomson shot wide when it looked easier to score at the Dundee goal, but Dunfermline’s midfield were regaining control, and she added her second goal and Dunfermline’s third late on, first react to a great cutback from Lola Wilmhurst.

But Dundee West would pull another back through Katy Luke, latching on to a loose ball from a corner to fire it high into the roof of the net.

However, Dunfermline winger Sophia Lawson restored the two goal lead late on, after another Wilmhurst cross had been deftly flicked on by Kat Cairns and Lawson struck a  cool volley at the back post from the edge of the box.

Dundee West looked for ways back into the game but some good game management by the Pars secured the 4-2 win.