Glendale lost out in the final of the Stephen Shield in a penalty kick shoot out to Bervie Caley at Glenury park Stonehaven in front of a crowd of close to 300. Both teams looked nervous throughout resulting in the ball being treated like a “hot tattie” with chances few and far between. Dale looked threatening in the first half when Callum Stewart and Graeme Oag were involved but they had to live off scraps and as a result the Bervie keeper didn’t have a save to make during a drab first half. Michael Thomson was the pick of the Dale mid-fielders flying into challenges while captain Alex McMahon was his usual dependable self but too often passes from both teams went astray and the feeling was things could only get better in the 2nd half. The game finally burst into life in 60 minutes when Stewart chased a lost cause and did brilliantly to keep the ball in play before crossing for GRAEME OAG who took a great first touch,shrugged off his marker and fired a shot underneath the keeper from 6 yards to spark wild celebrations. However Bervie were not going to lie down easily and were thrown a lifeline when Neil Humphries was adjudged to have handled in the box, a penalty was awarded but as he has done so often in the past Stuart Muirhead guessed correctly to dive to his right and palm away the spot kick to keep his team ahead. With 10 minutes left of normal time Bervie drew level and what a strike it was. A free kick was awarded fully 25 yards from goal and NEIL SMITH stepped up to fire a screamer into the top corner which nearly ripped the net off. Extra time came and went with no futher scoring the best chance during this period falling to Danny Lechner at the back post but his shot was too high leaving the dreded penalty kick’s to decide the winner. With both teams scoring their first 3 attempts it was the unfortunate Graeme Oag that saw his effort saved meaning Bervie only had to convert their final spot kick which they duly did to win the cup leaving Glendale with that “what might have been” feeling once again!