Ross County under-18s go in search of historic first piece of silverware against Morton in CAS Cup final at Alloa Athletic’s stadium
Ross County’s under-18s have the chance to win the first ever piece of silverware in the men’s academy’s history this week.
The side have reached their League Cup, called the CAS Cup, final where they will take on league champions Morton at Alloa Athletic’s Indodril Stadium on Friday evening.
It will cap off a strong run to the final, which has included wins over Edinburgh City, Elgin City, Bonnyrigg Rose, Montrose and a penalty shoot-out triumph over Ayr United in the last four.
County also reached the semi finals of the Scottish Cup, where they lost out to eventual runners-up Livingston.
A key part of both of those cup runs has been goalkeeper Jayden Reid, who saved three penalties in a shoot-out against Hibernian in the Scottish Cup before making another stop in the shoot-out against Ayr in the CAS Cup.
The teenager says that missing out on the Scottish Cup showcase will only spur them on this week as the young Staggies try to write their name into the history books.
“I’m obviously nervous, but it feels good to be there,” Reid said.
“We were gutted to lose to Livingston in the Scottish Cup, but hopefully this time can be a different outcome.
“Morton are a good team, and we’ll have to be at it to get something from the game.
“It would be an amazing feeling to win. I don’t think the 18s have ever won a trophy, so it would be good for the academy.
“It’s a lot of the guys’ first final, so it is already a big achievement, and hopefully we can go and win it now.”
Midfielder Jamie Williamson has missed a chunk of those cup runs due to an ankle injury, but is back fit to stake his claim for a place in County’s starting 11 for the final.
Like many of his teammates, it will be his first ever final at any level of football, but he is desperate to show his ability on such a big stage.
“Winning a cup would be a really good impact to make,” Williamson said.
“It will be my first final in football, so hopefully I can put my stamp on the game and lift the trophy.
“I’m really excited about it. There are always some nerves going into it, and as the days go on I think I might get more nervous and the excitement might start to tone down, but this is why we play football. We want to win trophies.”
Team coach Gordon Duff believes reaching the CAS Cup final for the first time ever is evidence of how much the under-18s have developed over the past year, and despite being the underdogs is giving County every chance of getting their hands on the trophy.
“Morton have had a great season, and they have been right up there in the league from the start, going on to win it,” he commented.
“It will be challenging, but I think we are more than capable of winning if the group execute what we know they can do.
“I think there has been a massive step forward from them. As a collective, it’s the best season we’ve had in five years. It’s one of the first seasons we’ve not finished near the bottom of the league, it’s the furthest we’ve got in the Scottish Cup and we’ve never been in a CAS Cup final.
“It’s been brilliant. The boys are at different stages of their journey – some are full time, some are first year under-18s and some are second year under-18s who might be getting their final foray for the under-18s and the club.
“There has been loads of development for the boys collectively and personally. Some of them have gone on loan, some have become consistent performers for the 18s and others unfortunately moved on, but as a group they have been brilliant.
“Now, this is a historic moment for the academy and the club. It’s massive, and we hope that the luck goes our way on the night in the final.”
Part of the reason for that development this season has been exposure to first team environments.
The likes of Williamson have spent time out on loan, in the central midfielder’s case with Nairn County in the Highland League, while Reid has often played the role of third goalkeeper on Ross County’s senior matchdays to help the likes of Jordan Amissah and Ross Laidlaw prepare.
Reid is certainly conscious of the impact that those experiences has had on his own game with the under-18s, adding: “I’m in there with the first team every day. (Goalkeeping coach) Scott Thomson has been a big part of my journey so far, and he has really helped me improve.
“Jordan Amissah, Logan Ross and Ross Laidlaw have all been great with teaching me new things too, so it’s been good to be around on matchdays, experiencing being there in front of the fans.
“It helps me feel more comfortable going back to the under-18s, but it’s still just 90 minutes of football.
“You have to be on it all the time, so nothing really changes much in that way.”
