RBS Overcome Standard Life in winter season finale

The winter season of Business Fives came to its climax in the stunning surroundings of Scotland’s national performance centre for sport, the Oriam. The tournament has been raising money for charity partner, Street Soccer Scotland with over ï¿¡2,500 going to help create positive change through football. 

With the Sky Sports cameras in attendance, the action on the pitch was a suitably high standard which we have come to expect from the previous qualifying heats across Edinburgh and Glasgow. Sky Sports presenter David Tanner brought the winter season to a close, compering the prize presentation with Edinburgh City’s, Bailie Elaine Aitken handing over the winning trophy to eventual winners the Royal Bank of Scotland.  

The winter season was sponsored by managed business communications firm, Difference Corp. David Tanner took to the couch to then host a Question & Answer session with former legends of the game. The panel consisted of tournament ambassadors and former Hibs and Hearts Players Pat Stanton and Gary Mackay along with Street Soccer Scotland’s Ally Dawson, former Rangers captain.

Stanton gave an insight into his spell under Alex Ferguson at Aberdeen with arguably the greatest manager in football making sure players were happy and enjoying their football on the pitch, Gary Mackay joked that tournament top goal scorer from RBS, James Barclay may not have made the team due to his serious demeanour on the park. 

Both Gary and Pat are full of optimism going into Sundays Scottish Cup Edinburgh Derby Stanton, quoted in the Scotsman, said “It means a lot to Hibs just to keep their season going. It keeps the confidence high for all the league games that will be coming up between now and the end of the season. The wee spell Hibs have had recently hasn’t helped matters. We want Hibs to be out of this league and in the premiership” stopping short of calling the derby a side event he continued “If you are in the cup then you are in there to win it. If Hibs could win the Championship and retain the Scottish Cup – I would be absolutely delighted.” 

Hearts hero Gary MacKay, quoted in the Daily Record insisted the Scottish Cup fifth-round showdown matters more to the men in maroon saying “This does mean more to Hearts than Hibs. It’s new to Hearts, you’re maybe talking about two players who have a knowledge of it but Hibs are different. I would have preferred if the Hibs manager who won the Scottish cup had been in charge rather than the current manager. I want Hearts to win but in a footballing sense if it means them winning and Hibs getting in the Premiership this season, that would be the double you would take because it would be far better if you had four of these games a season.”

The action on the indoor pitch at Oriam racked up 143 goals throughout the tournament as teams from across Scotland’s economy battled it out to be crowned national champions. 

In the group stages it was Glasgow Professional services champions AC Whyte who were the only side to come out with a 100% record preserved scoring 15 while only conceding 1 in the process. Financial Services runners up, Stewart Investors topped their group on goal difference ahead of RBS. Group B was a similarly close affair with teams from William Tracey, Anderson Strathern and Clark Contracts all finishing on 6 points with the latter topping the group with the superior goals scored tally. 

Long term tournament supporters Nairn’s Oatcakes, who have kept the players fuelled throughout the heats with their oatcakes, booked their place in the quarter finals via the playoffs overcoming Multiplex Construction 4-0. Edinburgh Airport lost out 5-0 to RBS, the only side to see out the tournament unbeaten. In the law firm derby returning finalists Anderson Strathern overcame Burness Paull 6-0 to book a quarter final spot against Standard Life who won their playoff 2-1. DoubleTree by Hilton Dunblane Hydro were the last team to make it to the quarter finals in a heated affair against construction champions William Tracey in a match that will unfortunately be remembered for the first sending off in Business Fives history. 

The quarter finals were hotly contested with AC Whyte overcoming Food, Drink & Hospitality champions DoubleTree by Hilton Dunblane Hydro 4-1. Clark Contracts lost out to Housing & Property champions RBS on sudden death penalties after a 2-2 draw. In a re run of the financial services heat final Standard Life came past Stewart Investors 2-0. The last quarter final saw Anderson Strathern register their fourth consecutive win with a 4-1 victory over Nairn’s Oatcakes. 

RBS booked their place in the final winning 3-2 in a very closely fought match against AC Whyte, who tasted defeat for only the first time in 10 Business Fives matches. Standard Life were hitting form at the right time getting past Anderson Strathern 3-1 to win their place in the final. 

The team from RBS were now in full flow with the calming influence of Ross MacDougal singled out as the man of the match in the final by the tournament ambassadors for the Scottish banking giants. James Barclay was once again on the scoresheet with some composed finishes as he went on to lift the golden boot for the finals. Standard Life rallied late on, hitting the post and forcing the keeper into some fine saves but couldn’t peg the score line back as the Royal Bank of Scotland ran out 4-1 winners to be crowned the Business Fives indoor winter 2016/17 season champions.

The big winners were Street Soccer Scotland, Ally Dawson accepting the cheque for ï¿¡2,500 raised throughout the duration of the tournament. 

Business Fives moves on to the golf course next with Scotland’s national business golf tournament coming in Spring with the links season of Business Fours. Taking place at Craigielaw in East Lothian and this year’s Scottish Open venue Dundonald Links ahead of the national final at St Andrews Fairmont. The tournament will be supporting 2 charity partners, the Yard and Beatson Cancer Charity.