Tuesday & Wednesday September 11th & 12th
Academy And Nairn Make The Final
Nairn County 3 – Forres Mechanics 2 – 11th September
A goal fit to win any game from Robbie Duncanson has sent
Nairn County through to the final of the AJG Parcels North of Scotland Cup at
the expense of Forres Mechanics in what was a five goal thriller at Station
Park.
It was Forres who took the lead with the fastest goal of the
season so far. A low ball across the 6
yard box between defence and keeper leaving Kevin Duguid a simple sidefooted
finish at the back post. The leveller arrived 57 seconds later. Nairn worked
the ball through midfield with Wayne Mackintosh taking a pass in a central
position 30 yards out and sliding the pass into the inside left channel for
John Cameron. He had the space to take a touch then angle his shot across
Stuart Knight and into the bottom corner of the net.
Nairn took the lead for the first time in the game in the
49th minute when Robbie Duncanson pounced when John Cameron's shot was blocked back
to the edge of the box and Cameron struck his shot into the bottom left hand
corner of the net with a wee deflection.
Forres were back on level terms in the 68th minute when a
ball in from the right was met by Martin McMullan. His 18 yard header came back
off the post and Kyle Scott was the only player to react, collecting it 12
yards and out slotting home.
It was the Wee County who scored to take the lead again with
eleven minutes to go. A good run from Gregg Main down the right wing dragged
the Forres defence back onto their 18 yard line which allowed the ball to be
played out to Robbie Duncanson 30 yards out.
He lined up the shot but opted to sidestep the challenge of Nathan Sharp
before driving through a gap in the Forres defensive line before adding a
composed, slotted finish to his curved and incisive run.
Wick Academy 3 – Brora Rangers 0 – 12th September
Wick Academy cruised to the final of the AJG Parcels North
of Scotland Cup following a dominant display against rivals Brora, to secure a
showdown with Nairn County at Grant Street Park on October 20.
Wick got on the early front foot in front of a packed
Harmsworth Park crowd when Sam Mackay swung a free-kick into the box, and Craig
Shearer was on hand to steer the ball home with a header at the far post.
Just two minutes later, Wick made it 2-0. On this occasion
it was a fine solo goal by Richard Macadie, as he drove at goal and let fly
with an angled drive from 25 yards.
Brora's chances were at a real premium thanks to Academy's
control of the game, and their first sight of goal came on 27 minutes when
Ritchie Hart forced Michael Gray into a save.
It got worse for Brora when Grant Innes picked up a
hamstring injury, being replaced by Alex Macleod. Academy nearly made it a 3-0
lead going in at the break, but Macadie on this occasion was thwarted by Ridgers.
It took Wick just two minutes of the second-half to all but
secure their place in next month's final. Man of the match James Pickles picked
up the ball outside the box, and struck a long range screamer into the net past
Ridgers.
After the third goal, Wick's pressure subsided somewhat, and
Brora should have narrowed the deficit soon after the goal when Liam Baxter
found room inside the box, but fired the ball wide of target.
There were few chances in the remainder of the second-half,
until Macadie was once again denied his second, on this occasion striking the
ball against the upright in the final stages. Nevertheless, the 3-0 scoreline
remained intact and Wick thoroughly
merited their place in the final from start to finish.
