Fort sign off from 'topsy turvy' season on a high

Fort William 4

 

Tain St Duthus 0

 

North Caledonian League

 

"attachment_922330" "" "291"] Andrew Maclean scored Fort William's first goal six minutes into the game Photograph: Iain Ferguson, Alba.photos.

 

The saints may have come marching down to Lochaber in fine form but they were rapidly sent back again as Fort William ended their season with a comprehensive win over their Ross-shire rivals.

 

Fort William had just lost two games on the road - a 5-0 defeat to Loch Ness and a 6-1 reversal to Invergordon.

 

Typically, the Claggan Park men were forced into a reshuffled line-up, but this included the return of top scorer Martin Munro and combative midfielder Andrew Mclean.

 

It was Mclean who opened the scoring inside the opening 10 minutes with winger Lerlah Hay grabbing the assist.

 

Early in the second half, Munro got free and teed up Mclean’s midfield partner Jamie McConnell who finished confidently.

 

Munro stepped up himself with 61 minutes on the clock when he notched up his 20th goal of the season and – with an assist from new goalkeeper Xavio Vastano – as the match wound down he scored to take his tally to 21 for the season, more than double anyone else in the squad.

 

"attachment_922324" "" "255"] Fort William's Martin Munro gave his usual energetic performance and scored two of the homes side's four goals. Photograph: Iain Ferguson, alba.photos.

 

Assistant manager Darren Duncan said: “We asked the boys to make sure they ended the season on a positive note and they certainly did.

 

“St Duthus are a good side and we knew it would be a tough game so we had to be at our best. I felt that was up there as one of our best performances of the season.

 

“Going into the game, we knew we could finish between third and fifth in the table so finishing in third feels like a positive reward for the hard work everyone has put in this season.

 

“It’s been a season of transition for the club. If you look at the squad at the beginning and end of the season, there is only a small number of players still here.

 

“Our main aim for the season was to get local boys back playing for the club whilst finishing the season as high up the table as possible and we feel we’ve done well in that part. Hopefully we can build on this and improve even more for next season.”

 

Manager Alan Gray agreed. “This has been a topsy turvy season,' he said. 'We have had some huge highs and the result against a good St Duthus team was a really great way to end,” he added.

 

“In patches, we have played excellent football. It has been commented on by several teams and at times have looked unbeatable. We haven’t drawn a game all season and have always looked to take teams on – perhaps sometimes to our detriment defensively.

 

“We have worked hard to increase community engagement and blending local talent with people coming into the team and the squad.

 

“Next year we need to see greater consistency if we are to challenge for promotion.

 

“I would like to thank the team around me: Rebecca Small, club secretary, and Darren,  my assistant, who have supported me throughout the season. I’m truly grateful to them and to the supporters who have come to watch us.”

 

Featured Image: The Fort team celebrate after their final match of the season which has seen them moving from bottom of the Highland League to third place in the North Caledonian League. Photograph: Iain Ferguson, Alba.photos. NO_F17_Fort FCVStDuthus 04