RBS overcomes Standard Life in Business Fives 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 £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.

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.

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 £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 two charity partners, The Yard and Beatson Cancer Charity.