In the 10th minute Shanks got a head-flick onto a
crossed ball and it fell to Taylor who hit it on the half volley from the
middle of the box, but he didn’t get much power on it and More made the save.
A minute later and Rothes took the lead. Another long range
effort by Milne that More looked to have well covered at his left post, but the
young keeper made an error of judgement as the ball seemed to bounce over his hand and ended up in the net.
1 – 2
Macadie fired a dangerous ball into the Rothes defence in
the 18th minute, but defender Shortreed was first to the ball and he
cleared it over his cross-bar.
With 27 minutes on the clock Milne tried a similar attempt
from where he scored his first goal, but More got down well and got his body
behind it.
A minute later and Hendry got the better of Alan Sinclair
and from a wide angle got a shot in across goal that just whistled past Mores
right hand post.
With 37 minutes played Academy started their best spell of the
game. Shearer controlled a high ball in the middle of the Rothes and just as he
was about to pull the trigger MacRea nicked it off his boot-laces.
2 minutes later Alan Sinclair and Macadie combined well on
the wing before Macadie crossed to Shearer who set-up Gunn but he pulled his
shot just wide of target.
Gunn ended the half with the final attempt, firing a cross
goal shot that went just wide of the post.
Half Time 1 – 2
Academy made a change at half-time with Davie Cowie coming
on for Bryan McKiddie.
The first attempt of the second half came in the 52nd
minute. Weir shooting over the top of the cross-bar from 16 yards out under
pressure from Mark Adam.
In an attempt to try to change the game Gary Manson came on
in the 59th minute for Gary Weir. Rothes made a change at the same
time with Taylor
being replaced for Ross Duncan.
Rothes had a great chance to extend their lead in the 63rd
minute. Shaun Sinclair gave the ball away to substitute Ross Duncan, and he ran
in on goal one-on-one with More. He tried to slot it past More but he did very
well to get a foot to it to save a certain goal.
Rothes made another change with Kris Duncan coming on for Hendry.
2 minutes later and Shaun Sinclair gave the ball away again
to Ross Duncan and this time Duncan
shot just wide of target.
In the 71st minute David Cowie made a trade-mark
break down the right wing and crossed to Martin Gunn who had a headed attempt
that went wide of target.
2 minutes later and Rothes spurned another great chance,
Shanks screwing his shot high and wide when he shout have at least hit the
target.
With 75 minutes played Academy had their chance to level the
game. Stewart Ross played a great ball onto the head of Gary Manson, and from
the middle of the box Manson headed wide of target with keeper Mair rooted to
the spot in the middle of his goal.
With 6 minutes left on the clock Alan Sinclair dallied on
the ball and Milne took advantage and got in on goal but More narrowed the
angle and he shot wide of target.
With time running out Ross Duncan did well on the wing and
fired a cross into the Academy box for Kris Duncan but he headed wide of target
from close range.
Just as Stewart Ross was announce as the match sponsors man
of the match, he was sent off for taking down Kris Duncan at the edge of the box.
Referee Watt adjudged that Ross was the last defender, so the red card was
flashed. Collins blazed the resulting free-kick over the cross-bar.
The game ended with Rothes on the attack, first Ross Duncan
shooting wide, and with 4 minutes of injury time played Kris Duncan had a shot
from 8 yards out that More got finger-tips to and he turned it over the
cross-bar.
Full Time 1 -2
So in truth a flat performance by Academy today and Rothes
were worthy of their win.
Sponsors Man of the match Stewart Ross
Pictured receiving his award from Paul Sutherland on behalf of the match sponsor Caithness Stone Industries
