The Sutherland Cup Final………..2 days to go. | |
29 July 2009 The 2009 Aberdein Considine Sutherland Cup Final between The road to the Sutherland Cup Final for Lovat began on 11 April 2009. The Balgate side were given a tricky first round tie away to Skye Camanachd and with neither side having their first teams in action, the Lovat team that travelled to Portree was strengthened by the inclusion of first team players including Fraser Gallagher and Greg Matheson. Skye were also boosted by the inclusion of Jamie MacDonald, Iain Nicolson and Shockie MacLennan.
Lovat made the better start to the tie and Ross Graham in the Skye goal had to save well on a couple of occasions to keep his side in the game. It was Skye who took the lead, perhaps slightly against the run of play, when Angie MacDonald fought to win the ball on the touchline and his cut back was converted by Danny Morrison. Just a couple of minutes later, Ross Graham made a terrific save to his right from a MacPherson shot.
Skye doubled their lead after 33 minutes when Danny Morrison set up Peter Gordon and the veteran striker made no mistake to give Skye a 2-0 interval lead. However just 2 minutes after the break, Jimmy MacKenzie pulled a goal back for Lovat when he converted from a corner.
Lovat drew level on the hour mark when Jamie Matheson gave Graham no chance. However Danny Morrison scored his fourth goal in two games just a minute later to restore Skye’s lead.
Jamie Matheson scrambled the ball over the line to level the match once again after 75 minutes. Danny Morrison almost restored Skye’s lead again but the Lovat keeper saved low to his right.
Referee Donnie MacRae took the match into an extra time period and both sides had chances to take the lead. Just when the crowd at Portree thought that the game was heading for penalties, James Matheson broke free to complete his hat-trick and give Lovat their vital third goal and the lead for the first time in the tie. Few could grudge Lovat their win and they progressed to the Sutherland Cup second round to host On 9 May 2009, Lovat met It was Kincraig at Balgate on 30 May 2009 next for Lovat in the quarter finals. They fancied their chances of a place in the semi finals against their Marine Harvest League Division 3 opponents. Owen Ferguson opened the scoring for Lovat in the first minute and Jamie Matheson scored their second after 9 minutes. Iain Grant pulled a goal back for Kincraig after 11 minutes but Martin Anderson restored their 2 goal advantage a minute later. Owen Ferguson completed his hat-trick after 32 and 40 minutes and a double from Jimmy MacPherson after 41 and 44 minutes made the interval score 7-1 to the home side. MacPherson went on to take his tally to 4 with 65 and 70 minute goals to make the final score 9-1. Lovat made a great start to their semi final against Kyles Athletic at Balgate on 11 July 2009 when a Martin Anderson strike after 15 minutes gave them the lead.
This match throws up at the later time of 5pm and will be shown live on BBC ALBA which is available on Sky channel 168 and on Freesat channel 110. For further information see www.bbcalba.co.uk. |