Dunoon U14 Pip Bute U14 To Title | |
15 November 2017 The U14 South of Scotland League was decided at Dunoon Grammar School on Friday 10 November 2017 where Dunoon hosted Bute in the final game of the season. Bute went into the match only needing a draw to secure the title. However Dunoon knew nothing less than a victory was required if they were to get their hands on the championship. Dunoon, backed by a good home support, made a bright start, pushing the Islanders back from the throw up. Bute appeared to have weathered the early storm but the Dunoon pressure told on 12 minutes when Ross Donald found himself free at the back of the D and he powered the hosts in front with a low shot into the net. Dunoon continued to press as their midfield of captain Kyle Kerr, Marcus Keith and Steven Thompson continually provided possession for the home strikers. Dunoon’s neat pass and move shinty was rewarded on 20 minutes when an angled through ball found Neily McNaughton wide on the left and he rifled an unstoppable shot high into the net to make it 2-0. The home team were now playing with confidence with their early nerves long forgotten. Bute made occasional raids on the Dunoon goal but the defence, Sandy Stuart and Sam Bulloch, marshalled by Murray McClymont, were up to the task, mopping up the danger when required. Bute looked to have grabbed a lifeline on 25 minutes when the ball was bundled over the line but the referee spotted a “kick” and awarded a free-hit went in Dunoon’s favour. Just a couple of minutes later, Dunoon netted a crucial third goal when Neily McNaughton was on hand to score his second goal of the game, giving his side a comfortable 3-0 cushion going into half-time. The second half continued in the same vein with the intelligent movement from the Dunoon forwards causing Bute all sorts of problems and Finan Kennedy finished off a great move on 32 minutes, expertly lobbing the keeper, to make it 4-0. Bute never gave up, always trying to get a foothold in the game, but when they threatened the home goal, they found Innes Lambert in the Dunoon goal to be cool under pressure. With Bute pushing forward, Dunoon hit them on the counter-attack and a free flowing move involving Sam Bulloch and Mark Crowe set up a chance for Marcus Keith who fired home from distance to add a fifth on 45 minutes. Dunoon were dominant and the introduction of the industrious Rory Oxland and Drew McDonagh-Myer didn’t disrupt their attacking threat. Bute grabbed a consolation goal 5 minutes from the end through Steven Dunn. This was a tremendous effort from Dunoon who ran out 5-1 winners on the night to take the title and they only dropped three points throughout their league campaign. Colin Cameron from the Camanachd Association was on hand to present the U14 South of Scotland League trophy to Dunoon captain Kyle Kerr. |