2012 Aberdein Considine Sutherland Cup Final - Kingussie 4 Newtonmore 5 | |
30 July 2012 Newtonmore lifted the Aberdein Considine Sutherland Cup with a 5-4 win over Kingussie in a thrilling final at the Dell on Saturday 28 July 2012. There was a minutes silence before throw up to remember Belle Ross, wife of Iain Ross and mother to Ronald Ross and Iain Ross, who passed away earlier in the week. Iain Ross and his sons were present at the game. The pitch was in its usual excellent condition despite the heavy rain which fell before the game and through the opening period of the final. The first real chance fell to Newtonmore as Calum Stewart got on the end of an Evan Menzies pass but his shot flashed across goal. The opening goal came when ‘More won possession from a Kings shy on their right and Menzies was again the provider for Calum Stewart who whipped the ball low into the corner of the net. Newtonmore had the better of the early stages and they increased their lead in devastating fashion with two goals in two minutes. Their second goal was almost a compete replica of the opener with Newtonmore’s Conor Jones winning the ball from a shy but this time Calum Stewart played in Evan Menzies and he rolled the ball into the net to make it 2-0 with 20 minutes played. Just 60 seconds later it was 3-0. Ruaridh Wink slipped when trying to deal with a long ball into the middle of the Kingussie defence and Evan Menzies sent a blistering drive into the roof of the net. Many teams would have folded at this stage but Kingussie showed their mettle when Rory MacGregor cut the ball back to Michael Clark but his shot went narrowly past Sean MacQuarrie’s right post. Next a great run from Savio Genini saw him turn inside his marker before the 15 year old sent a terrific shot which smacked off the crossbar and rebounded to safety. Savio Genini then darted through the middle of the Newtonmore defence to get on the end of a Rory MacGregor lob into the D but his deft flick went just the wrong side of the post. Jake MacPherson sent a looping show from midfield but Sean MacQuarrie had his left post covered as the ball went wide. Kingussie pulled a goal back in 36 minutes when a Rory Fraser ball was flicked on by John Gibson and Rory MacGregor smashed the ball across keeper MacQuarrie into the net to make it 3-1. However the Kingussie cheers had barely died down when Newtonmore restored their three goal cushion less than a minute later. Calum Stewart collected the ball just outside the D and on his left side; he struck the ball into the roof of the net for his second goal of the game to make it 4-1. Savio Genini beat his marker on the left and fired another great shot goalwards but Sean MacQuarrie made a superb save with his caman above his head. A Michael Clark shot was the last action of the first half but it didn’t trouble keeper MacQuarrie. Newtonmore made the first change of the game at the break as Martin Ivil replaced Liam Mullender at wing back. Sean MacQuarrie was the busier of the two keepers in the opening 15 minutes of the second period without having any difficult saves to make. It was “game on” on the hour mark as Rory MacGregor played a great ball into the D and Savio Genini raced in to flick the ball over MacQuarrie’s left shoulder to make it 4-2. A minute later Russell Menzies made a point blank save from a Calum Stewart shot although the chances are that the keeper knew little about it. Sean MacQuarrie saved well from Savio Genini as the game swung from end to end. Ross Aitken replaced Conor Jones for Newtonmore. Kingussie reduced the deficit to a single goal after 72 minutes. The ball broke to Michael Clark at the edge of the D and he sent a rocket shot, high into the net to make it 4-3. Conor Jones came back on in place of the limping Brett Munro a minute later. MacQuarrie saved well from Rory MacGregor after 76 minutes. Jake MacPherson came off with cramp and was replaced by Darren Hanlon. Russell Menzies made a spectacular stop from a 25 yard Evan Menzies effort with just 7 minutes remaining. Evan Menzies completed his hat-trick on 84 minutes with the goal of the match. Menzies collected the ball on the left and he waltzed past Ruairidh Wink, Rory MacKeachan and evaded a desperate lunge from Scott MacIntyre to roll the ball into the net to make it 5-3. A minute later Kingussie cut the deficit to a single goal once again as Michael Clark won the ball and fed John Gibson and he sent a terrific drive into the net to make it 5-4. Kingussie almost levelled when a bullet shot from Genini from the left was brilliantly saved by MacQuarrie above his head. Michael Clark then came within a whisker of equalising after 88 minutes but he swept the ball wide. Ross Aitken and Evan Menzies exchanged passes before Aitken saw his low shot saved. A minute of injury time was played before referee Graeme MacMillan, who refereed the final effectively and without fuss, blew his final whistle and the Newtonmore celebrations began. However the part played by Kingussie in such an entertaining final should not be forgotten. Newtonmore captain Evan Menzies was presented with Sutherland Cup by Richard Street from Aberdein Considine. Kingussie from; Russell Menzies, Ruairidh Wink, (captain), Rory MacKeachan, Scott MacIntyre, Hamish Anderson, Ryan MacWilliam, Rory Fraser, Jake MacPherson, John Gibson, Rory MacGregor, Savio Genini, Michael Clark, subs Greig MacRae, Darren Hanlon, Chris Hollysong, Lewis Falconer Newtonmore from; Sean MacQuarrie; Michael Russell, Brett Munro, Liam Mullender, Owen Fraser, Calum Binnie, Cameron Binnie, David Fraser, Conor Jones, Drew MacDonald, Calum Stewart, Evan Menzies (captain), subs Ross Aitken, Martin Ivil, Angus Gray, Mark MacDonald, David Campbell Match Referee – Graeme MacMillan |