A massive night under the lights awaits Wallace High’s senior girls football squad as they bid to retain the Scottish Shield they won last year. The under-18 side will face a team from Dundee’s Grove Academy at the Falkirk Stadium at 8pm this evening and will be hoping to keep the trophy in the school’s cabinet after the last-gasp win at Hampden. Last year’s dramatic 1-0 success at the National Stadium saw the team backed by hundreds of fans from Stirling who got behind the squad — and the girls are hoping for another big turnout to drive them on once again. Head coach Rachel Whillans is Principal Teacher at Wallace High’s School of Sport, which was launched in November 2012 and now supports its pupils’ potential in football, rugby, swimming, dance and basketball. She said: “I am incredibly proud of my team, who have faced an incredible challenge this season to reach the final, for the second consecutive year. “As the cup holders, it would have been easy to be complacent but this group of girls have such a good attitude, and combined with their work ethic and determination, they have overcome every challenge that has come their way.” Their route to the final has been far from easy and includes a sensational comeback in the semi-final against St Mungo’s High from Falkirk, where the girls progressed after scoring four goals in the last ten minutes to overturn a 5-1 deficit before winning in a penalty shootout. For some of those pulling on the Wallace shirts tonight, it will be an amazing third appearance in the showpiece occasion, with the majority of the squad also having appeared in the 2023 under-15 final in Alloa where they lost out 3-2 to Lasswade High. Rachel continued: “It has been a tough run, facing some excellent opposition but this is a special group of players, who I have every confidence in. The semi-final epitomised their spirit. They have one final match to go and we will prepare correctly and give it everything on the night. “I would personally like to say a huge thank you to our Head Teacher Scott Pennock and the Wallace staff who have supported the girls all the way, as well as the parents and carers who have supported every match, together with the match officials and organisers. “Finally, to my coaching team, Colin Burke, Emily Gray and goalkeeper coach Barry Wick - a huge thank you. “We can’t wait until May 9 and hopefully we can bring the trophy home and make the whole Wallace community proud.” The coaching staff at Wallace also includes local football legend Jimmy Bone, who played as a striker for clubs including Partick Thistle, Celtic, St Mirren and Hearts, winning two caps for Scotland in the process. Wallace High head teacher Scott Pennock said: “The girls have, once again, shown an outstanding attitude to reach the Scottish Cup Final and the chance to defend their trophy. “Coming back from 5-1 down with ten minutes to go in the semi-final is truly one of the great achievements I have witnessed in school sport. “It typifies their amazing spirit and I wish them all the best in the final – another occasion for them to make memories that will last a lifetime.”