Fort William Football Club reserves beaten in Ross Cup Final
It was a Lochaber festival of football which left fans of Mallaig celebrating the blues, as the coastal men won the Ross Cup 3-1 against Fort William Reserves.
Played in Kyleakin, the final represented the youthful Fort side’s first appearance in a final in only the team’s second year in existence.
Featuring its traditional bevvy of youth players, the Fort William side stuck to its guns and played slick passing football, even though the Skye weather and boggy pitch made this ambitious.
This ambition paid off, however, when around the 40-minute mark of the first half Ruaridh ‘Pigeon’ MacDonald demonstrated his ruthlessness in front of goal to score the opener.
Up to this point, Fort William had been playing the football, manager Scott Duncan had demanded, side spraying passes and moving the ball side to side.
But Mallaig are nothing if not tenacious and losing a goal spurred them on.
Two minutes after conceding, they were back level as a clinical corner saw Bradley Cameron beaten by Ross Douglas.
Mallaig continued in the same vein in the second half showing ruthless strength and hitting the Fort William side at key moments as Douglas bagged his brace before Andy Cunningham scored to earn Mallaig another trophy.
Fort William chairman Rob Coull said: “Getting to a cup final in any age group is a great achievement.
“The reserves beat some really tough and seasoned teams to earn that place.
“I was pleased at the performance in the first half. The team stuck to the game plan of playing fast football on the deck. In the second half, Mallaig came out with their own plan and made it difficult for us.
“They were deserved winners but we move on and concentrate on the next game.
“The team bond the coaches have nurtured with a young squad was great to see and the squad should be extremely proud of themselves.
“Many have been given the opportunity to join the first team squad with our first game in the North Caledonian League at Claggan Park on Saturday August 17 against Inverness Athletic at 2pm.”
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