HERMITAGE Academy’s recent footballing success continued with the under-15 squad being crowned GSFA Division Three champions recently.

The Academy squad ran out 4-3 winners after extra time in a fiercely competitive game against Clydebank’s St Peter the Apostle High School.

The win sees Hermitage claim their first league title since 2008 and caps a long, hard season for the side, whose first game kicked off way back in September.

In the months that have followed the team, comprised of pupils from S2, S3 and S4, have battled against teams from all across Glasgow, with results in the league being good enough to propel them into the league play-off quarter final against St Andrew’s Secondary in Glasgow.

Never a team to make it easy, Hermitage had to come back from a 2-0 deficit at half-time to win 3-2, with goals coming from Bruce Cromar and a Jamie Paterson brace. A deserved win on penalties just four days later at home to Rosshall Academy in the semi-final took the Helensburgh side into their second consecutive league play-off final.

Having finished as runners up last season to the same opposition, Hermitage Academy were determined to ensure they left with the trophy this time out, and they duly delivered.

After trailing early on, a Jack Ritchie penalty restored parity on the stroke of half-time. It wasn’t long after the restart before St Peter’s again took the lead, with a high deflected short looping over Adam Carmichael in the Hermitage goal.

Academy battled on and deservedly found an equaliser through Cameron Ritchie with just eight minutes to play. From there on in, there only looked to be one winner.

Almost immediately from the whistle to start extra time, Hermitage were on the offensive, creating a number of excellent opportunities in front of goal, led by a superb front pairing of James Cameron and Cameron Ritchie — ably supported by the team captain Jamie Paterson in midfield.

Just moments later, the former of the two strikers broke away to cooly finish when one-on-one with the oncoming St Peter’s goalkeeper to give Hermitage the lead for the first time. 3-2 quickly became 4-2 when a Reece Court corner bent its way directly into the top corner of the St Peter’s net.

With the final 10 minutes dragging infor the Academy side, and the referee playing plenty of added time, St Peter’s grabbed a third late on to reduce the Hermitage lead.

It was not, however, enough to retain their prize from last season, which now belonged to Hermitage.

After the win, a delighted team captain Jamie Paterson said: “It’s great to finally win the league, especially after last year’s defeat. Throughout the year we have been excellent and this win makes all the hours of training totally worthwhile.” Manager Ross Stewart, added: “It’s a great feeling to win the league. I’m delighted for all of the players who have been consistently excellent this year, for their desire, endeavour and commitment alone they fully deserve a gold medal to add to last year’s disappointing silvers.

“I just hope we can enjoy similar success next season.” The full under-15 squad for the 2014-15 season was: Adam Carmichael, Jack Ritchie, Lewis Campbell, Lewis Crawford, Jamie Peak, Jack Livesey, Sean Cameron, Shaun Smith, Tom Barton, Reece Court, Jamie Paterson, Brandon Pitt, Ross McGourlay, Bruce Cromar, Max Williams, James Cameron, Liam Kavanagh, Cameron Ritchie, Cameron Allan and Kyle Ritchie.

Trials for next year’s under-16 Hermitage Academy side will be held in June.