Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup Final - Kingussie 2 Fort William 3. | |
21 September 2010 A stunning last gasp Gary Innes strike ensured the Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup remained in Fort William for a fourth successive year following the final against Kingussie at the Bught Park, Inverness on Saturday 18 September 2010. Fort William were at full strength with the exception of wing forward Drew Ferguson who suffered a broken ankle during his 2 goal performance in the semi final win over Inveraray. Kingussie had fitness doubts over Paul Gow and Ricky Grant but both started the match. However defenders Ally MacLeod and Iain Borthwick were ruled out. The constant rain left a greasy surface for both sides to contend with. Fort William started brightly and with barely 10 seconds gone, James Clark set up a chance for Gary Innes but his shot flew across goal. Fort William threatened again after 6 minutes when Bryan Simpson won possession and laid the ball off to James Clark who had escaped his marker. The Fort William full forward had a couple of stabs at goal but the ball went wide of target. James Clark pushed a free hit in Gary Innes’ direction after 11 minutes but Kingussie keeper Andrew Borthwick made a good save down to his left at the expense of a corner. James Clark played the corner from the right into the D but Kingussie scrambled the ball clear. The better chances seemed to be failing Fort William’s way and they took the lead on 14 minutes. Gordie MacKinnon played in a free hit from the left after James Hutchison was penalised for a kick near the touchline. The ball found Gary Innes with his back to goal, just deep of the penalty spot. Innes expertly controlled the ball with his stick before turning and sending a low, bouncing back-hand shot past Borthwick at his left post to net his 31st goal of the season. Kingussie had enjoyed periods of possession in the game without threatening the Fort William goal. However they responded positively to going a goal down and on 18 minutes, a creative move involving Ronald Ross, Ryan Borthwick and Barrie Dallas gave Ross sight of goal but his shot went past the post. Fort William’s Bryan Simpson won possession on 22 minutes and set up a chance for James Clark but his shot was blocked for a corner. On 27 minutes another back-hand effort from Gary Innes was saved by Andrew Borthwick and cleared for a corner. Referee Billy Wotherspoon reached for his top pocket after 31 minutes to book Fort William’s John MacDonald for a dig in the back on Paul Gow. A minute later Thomas Borthwick lifted the ball wide from a corner on the left. Kingussie went even closer on 34 minutes. Ronald Ross found himself tightly marked by Fort defender Liam MacIntyre throughout the final and fellow defender Adam Robertson was always in the vicinity to double mark Ross when the need arose. On this occasion, Ross came deep to collect a pass with Robertson in hot pursuit. Ross played the ball wide to Barrie Dallas and his cross was met by Thomas Borthwick as his shot across goal brought a brilliant save from Fort keeper Paul MacKay. Kingussie had a strong claim from a penalty on 35 minutes. A neat ball into the danger area gave Thomas Borthwick the chance to run in on goal and television replays indicated that the Kingussie youngster was brought down inside the D by Adam Robertson’s caman. Referee Wotherspoon consulted with goal judge Ron Millican and booked Borthwick for his colourful protests. Ronald Ross came deep again on 37 minutes with Adam Robertson giving chase. Ross lobbed the ball to Ryan Borthwick but keeper Paul MacKay did well to block his effort. Fort William survived this period of pressure and a minute later they were 2-0 up. Bryan Simpson touched the ball to Gary Innes and he burst through the middle of the King’s defence before playing an inch perfect reverse flick to Simpson who had continued his run. With the goal in sight, Simpson coolly beat Andrew Borthwick to the delight of the Fort Support. Kingussie reduced the deficit on 41 minutes when a deep cross from Barrie Dallas on the right gave Ronald Ross the chance escape Liam MacIntyre’s clutches and lift the ball past MacKay to make it 2-1. Fort William’s Adam Robertson appeared to have been hit on the head by a flying caman as the cross came in. Kingussie’s Garry Munro some-how escaped a booking on 42 minutes when he took out Bryan Simpson just outside the D as the forward burst clean through on goal. The resultant free-hit came to nothing. There was a throw up on the stroke of half time after Gary Innes had been hit on the head. The ball fell to James Clark but he blasted into the side net. Fort William were left waiting in the rain for their opponents to return to the field at the start of the second half. However when the Kings did appear, they looked a rejuvenated side. The Fort defence passed up several chances to clear a ball into their danger area on 49 minutes but Ryan Borthwick was unable to take advantage. Paul MacKay had to be careful when dealing with a trundling shot from Ronald Ross on 53 minutes and he ushered the ball for a corner. Ronald Ross fired a good shot through a ruck of players a couple of minutes later and MacKay did very well to save with his feet as the Badenoch side continued to press. Fort William attacked on 59 minutes when Gordie MacKinnon got on the end of an attempted shot from Gary Innes but the ball sailed over the bar. With Fort William continuing to double-mark Ross, Kingussie were making much better use of their free man in the second half and Barrie Dallas in particular was finding acres of space down the left. Dallas crossed to Thomas Borthwick on 61 minutes and as the Fort William defence seemed to lose concentration, Borthwick rattled the post with a rocket shot. Barrie Dallas spurned a great chance on 66 minutes as his shot went high and wide of goal. Gordie MacKinnon created an opportunity for himself on 67 minutes but his shot went wide. On 68 minutes, Ronald Ross fired over from a set piece as the rain seemed to ease for the first time during the day. Barrie Dallas crossed from the left on 70 minutes but Paul MacKay got his body in the way of Ronald Ross’ effort. This was to captain Dallas’ last contribution as he was replaced by James MacLean a minute later. Ronald Ross set up a chance for Ryan Borthwick on 72 minutes but his drive rose over the bar. A terrific Kingussie move on 73 minutes was started by James Hutchison who found Paul Gow. He played in Fraser Munro who set up Ronald Ross but his blistering drive went wide. It seemed inevitable that all this Kingussie pressure would eventually pay off and it did after 75 minutes. Ronald Ross came deep on the left and played a defence-splitting pass which found Thomas Borthwick right of goal and he made no mistake as he smashed the ball low into the net to square the final at 2-2. Kingussie looked favourites at this stage but Fort William battled back. James Clark had a chance from a Gordie MacKinnon pass on 78 minutes but he was falling as he shot for goal. Clark was again pushing for his customary cup final goal on 81 minutes but Andrew Borthwick made a good stop low to his left. Paul Gow was now finding space on the King’s left as his side made another change replacing Ricky Grant with veteran Rory Fraser. With just 6 minutes remaining, Fort William coach Peter MacIntyre made his one and only change of the day putting Victor Smith on at full forward in a straight swap for James Clark. Fort William’s Adam Robertson became the third player to be booked 6 minutes from time as he scythed down Paul Gow who was in on goal. Robertson was unhappy with the booking having no doubt seen Kingussie’s Munro escape unpunished for a similar offence earlier in the game. The free hit was cleared. With extra time looming, it was going to take a mistake or a piece of brilliance to settle the final. Fortunately it was the later. Kingussie keeper Andrew Borthwick had to palm a lofted John MacDonald effort clear for a corner in 89 minutes. MacDonald raced to the right to take the corner and he played the ball across goal where Gary Innes made a darting run towards him to crash a shot from an acute angle, over Borthwick’s right shoulder, into the top corner of the net to win the cup. It was a training ground move which came off at the most vital of times and Fort William had no trouble seeing out the remaining seconds of the game. A delighted Fort William captain Niall MacPhee was presented with the Camanachd Cup which now makes its familiar route back to An Aird. Fort William from; Paul MacKay, Liam MacIntyre, Duncan Rodger, Adam Robertson, Neil Robertson, Chris Bamber, Niall MacPhee (captain), John MacDonald, Gary Innes, Gordie MacKinnon, Bryan Simpson, James Clark. (Victor Smith) Kingussie from; Andrew Borthwick, Lee Bain, Garry Munro, John Hutchison, Ricky Grant, Louis Munro, Fraser Munro, Paul Gow, Ryan Borthwick, Barrie Dallas (captain), (James MacLean), Thomas Borthwick, Ronald Ross, Match Referee – Billy Wotherspoon Goal Judges; John MacLeod & Rom Millican |