THE main focus of Saturday’s shinty card was at Fort William’s An Aird Park where the home side won the Liberty British Aluminium Balliemore Cup for the second time in three years courtesy of a 3-2 extra-time victory over Glasgow Mid Argyll.
The result rounds off a successful season for Fort William who are already assured of promotion to the sport’s Premier League, having won the Mowi National Division title two weeks earlier.
For Fort boss Adam Robertson – he co-manages the side with his former team-mate Victor Smith – the Balliemore victory, although welcome, was not the main priority of his side this season. “Regaining our Premier League status was always the main focus this year; this cup win is simply the icing on the cake. At the same time, it’s good experience for our young players – they get that build up to a big day, and it goes all the way to a finish. We were behind in this match and had to dig in to win it, and that will stand them in good stead for next year.”
Fort William started the stronger side and might have gone ahead inside two minutes were it not for the fact that frontman Alexander Macmillan’s early strike found the GMA post rather than the net. Not long after that, Glasgow keeper Robert Dunnings pulled off an excellent double save first from Arran MacPhee and then the follow-up strike from Lachie Shaw. MacPhee was also unlucky to see another of his attempts strike the crossbar.
It wasn’t all Fort William on the offensive in the first half, though, because at the other end keeper Paul MacKay had to keep out an attempt from Glasgow midfielder Craig Anderson that could easily have seen the Glasgow side open the scoring. After a goal-less first half, GMA opened the scoring after 54 minutes when a cutback from half-forward Mark Bain set up full-forward Calum MacLay to finish nicely from inside the “D”.
Fort William fought back to draw level soon afterwards through a low shot from Alexander MacMillan which took the tiniest of deflections to beat Dunnings, who was late to see it coming through a crowded backline.
The Mid Argyll reaction was more or less immediate with the ball fed forward directly from the throw-up, allowing MacLay the space and time to score from close range and put Mid Argyll 2-1 ahead.
Mid Argyll were unlucky not to go further in front but, their best attempt, an excellent strike by Jamie McFadyen which was heading for the top corner was superbly deflected away from the net by the caman of Fort keeper MacKay. Mid Argyll kept their noses in front and looked like they were going to hold on to win until just four minutes from the final whistle when Fort substitute Padraig MacNeil popped up to knock home the equaliser from the rebound after a fine save by Dunnings from a MacPhee shot.
Extra time followed – but in this phase of the game, sadly for GMA, Fort William were firmly in control and MacNeil finally clinched the trophy after 95 minutes when he once again had the presence of mind to pounce on a rebound after Dunnings had stopped an initial drive from Victor Smith.
Disappointment then for Glasgow Mid Argyll who have now lost back-to-back Balliemore Cup finals at An Aird. Fort William, however, have a cup win to savour, the real job is to prepare for next season’s Premier League experience.
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