Beauly Lift 2013 Lovat Cup – Beauly 2 Lovat 1 | |
02 January 2013 Beauly lifted the Lovat Cup with a 2-1 win over Lovat in front of a huge crowd at Braeview Park on Wednesday 2 January 2013. Shinty supporters travelled from far and wide for this 1pm throw up between these great rivals. Beauly had worked hard to get the annual New Year meeting played at their home ground but the pitch was heavy and was to cut up as the afternoon wore on. Holders Lovat made the better start to what was a fiery contest so when Beauly took the lead; it was against the run of play. The goal came from a free-hit on the right which was played across goal. Martin Davidson had the initial chance and when the Lovat defence failed to clear, Jack MacDonald nipped in to send a sweet strike passed Stuart MacDonald into the back of the net. Beauly went on to enjoy a period of dominance before Lovat levelled; again against the run of play. Greg Matheson has been key to Lovat’s recent success in this contest and he drew the Balgate men level on 34 minutes when he collected a ball from the left and turned his marker before firing low past MacKay Murray to make it 1-1. Lovat almost went in front just 60 seconds later when a Greg Matheson ball found Lorne MacKay in space at the edge of the D but he was unable to get any power in his shot and MacKay Murray saved with his feet. The sides looked like they were heading for the half-time interval all-square until Beauly launched a late attack and although Lovat seemed to clear the danger, goal judge Richard Gall spotted an infringement inside the D and referee Deek Cameron awarded the home side a penalty. The Braeview Park pitch had taken enough punishment for the penalty spot to have disappeared from view so Cameron paced out a new spot. Beauly captain Barrie MacDonald assumed responsibility and he took time to ensure the surface would allow him a clean hit before smashed a text-book penalty hit into the top left corner of Stuart MacDonald’s net. The strike gave the keeper no chance and sent the Beauly support into raptures. Beauly made a decent start to the second period but the half was only 7 minutes old when their full forward Martin Davidson reacted badly to a challenge from Lovat’s Callum Cruden and referee Cameron had no option but to show him a red card. Many on the touchline were of the opinion that Davidson’s rush of blood would swing the advantage Lovat’s way but this view didn’t allow for Beauly’s battling qualities and their desire and it was they who pressed the Lovat goal. First Daniel Grieve made a last-gasp challenge to clear the ball off the line after his initial mistake had allowed chances for Conor Ross and Jack MacDonald. Lovat keeper Stuart MacDonald was then called into action twice in quick succession before he made a brilliant 74 minute save from a Barrie MacDonald drive and Jack MacDonald put the rebound wide. Lovat knew that as holders, they only required to draw the match to retain the trophy and the local bragging rights and they threw everything at the Beauly goal for the final 15 minutes of the game. Greg Matheson was a constant threat and he forced MacKay Murray into a good save. Lovat substitute Graeme MacMillan went close to getting the goal the Lovat support craved when he ghosted in at the back post but his effort rose agonisingly over the bar. MacKay Murray remained calm under pressure to foil goal-mouth scrambles twice more before the end. Referee Deek Cameron’s final whistle signalled the Beauly celebrations as green flares lit up Braeview Park to mark the club’s first Lovat Cup success since 2007. It was Beauly’s day and they were well served by Conor Cormack and Scott MacLeod at the back whilst David MacLean was the pick of the midfield players. Beauly’s forwards had to put in a tough shift, especially when they went a man down but in Jack MacDonald and Conor Ross, who was excellent following his second half introduction, they had a pairing who worked tirelessly for the cause. Beauly captain Barrie MacDonald proudly lifted the Lovat Cup and there was agreement that both sides had served up an entertaining spectacle in front of a crowd of over 1,500. Beauly from; MacKay Murray; Scott MacLeod, Iain Broadhead, Kenneth MacKenzie, Conor Cormack, Ross Forbes, David MacLean, Dougie Blaine, Barrie MacDonald, Sean Stewart, Jack MacDonald, Martin Davidson, subs Conor Ross, Ryan Tillman, Rory Campbell, Ryan MacKay Lovat from; Stuart MacDonald, Drew Howie, Daniel Grieve, Michael MacKenzie, Callum Cruden, Martin Mainland, Craig Mainland, Lorne MacKay, Duncan Davidson, Owen Ferguson, Greg Matheson, Ryan Ferguson, subs Lewis Tawse, Calum Macaulay, Graeme MacMillan Match Referee – Deek Cameron Goal Judges – Willie Anderson, Richard Gall Click on the following link to see pictures from the game www.tinamarshall.co.uk |