LEITH Athletic under-15s kicked off their pre-season games with a very hard-earned 2-1 win against a good Raith Rovers squad at Leith Links. There is no such thing as a ‘friendly’ game in football and this contest between two good sides was very competitive, indeed. The Kirkcaldy side started well and they looked very well organised and eager from the opening whistle from match referee, Tam Carter. The big Raith defenders presented a very tough hurdle for the home side in this challenge game of 3x30min stages and it was really tough going for the home outfit. The first of the three perios of play ended 0-0 but there was no lack of action at either end of the pitch with Raith's Chris Malcolm, looking a very competent young, confident goalkeeper. Leith took some time to get to grips with the game but they warmed up to the task presented by the strong young Raith Rovers players and went on to create lots of problems for the Fife defence, but Malcolm was in superb form for the visiting side. It was a cracking game but,  possibly, it was just a bit too frantic at times. Both sides showed they could play good, composed football given the chance and it was Leith Athletic that went on to break the deadlock with Jason Coyle making the breakthrough to put the home side 1-0 in front. Raith were on the back foot for a while after losing that goal in the second of the two 30min periods and they went further behind when Gavin Kneeshaw was up in the Raith goalmouth to chest a cross from Ryan Ward past the unprotected Malcolm in to the back of the net to put his side 2-0 up. Raith, who had started the game so well, then regained their confidence in the last period of play and they reduced the deficit to 2-1 with a well deserved goal from Mark Pender. There was a nice competitive atmosphere about this game and it was well controlled by Tam Carter. Leith emerged the winners in their first outing of their pre-season build-up to the start of the leagues in August but they will know now what lies ahead of them as they make the step-up to under-15s and it will be much more physical for them this season. Raith, meanwhile, have a tougher task ahead in the Initiative Leagues. But that is all in the future and both sets of players at Leith Links produced a very good game of football. It was a very enjoyable pre-season challenge game and Leith have strengthened their squad with several very good players. It promises to be another cracker of a season for them in the Lothian Buses South East Region Youth Leagues. Good luck to Leith Athletic and also to Raith Rovers. It was really good to see a team from a professional club in action at Leith Links.