STRATHSPEY THISTLE (Seafield Park)

SCOTTISH HIGHLAND FOOTBALL LEAGUE, STRATHSPEY THISTLE 3-3 WICK ACADEMY, ATTENDANCE: 102 (h/c)

After Wednesdays North of Scotland Cup tie was cancelled due to Covid I finally headed to Grantown-on-Spey this afternoon to watch Strathspey Thistle take on Wick Academy in their first Highland League home game since March 2020.

Grantown-on-Spey is a town on the northern edge of the Cairngorms, around 20 miles south of Inverness, from where I was based.

The football club were formed in April 1993 as a result, ironically, of another teams success. The only football in town was during the summer months in the Strathspey & Badenoch Welfare League but five players who turned out for Grantown FC in that competition also played for Lossiemouth United in the Junior League when they when the title in 1992/93.

This led to a discussion about creating a team made up of the Strathspey & Badenoch Welfare League's best players and entering the Junior ranks. As a result Strathspey Thistle was born.

The name Strathspey Thistle was chosen to emphasise that the new club represented the district and not just Grantown.

The club enjoyed success in the Junior League before being elected to the Highland League in 2009, where they played their first game against this afternoon's visitors Wick Academy, losing 8-1. Speaking to the lady selling the golden goal tickets, this scoreline still resonates 12 years on!

Seafield Park has been home since the club's formation and was also previously home to Grantown FC until that club's demise in 1995. Th ground is sandwiched between the local grammer school and the golf course. There is a seated stand positioned on the half way line. 

The visitors from Wick started brightest and had the best of all the early chances, the best of which was scrambled off the line by Strathspey 'keeper Robert Donaldson.

It was no surprise when The Scorries took the lead when Gordon MacNab cut in to fire home, despite Donaldson getting a strong hand on the ball.

The goal sparked Strathspey into life and they now started to attack, but still looked susceptible to the counter attack. It appeared that Wick would hold onto the lead until half time but on 42 minutes a defensive mix-up up led to a Jags equaliser.

An initial poor back pass was sliced clear by Wick 'keeper Graeme Williamson and the ball fell to a Strathspey player who squared to Craig MacKenzie, who rounded the stranded Williamson to fire the ball home into the unguarded net.

The second half was four minutes old when a Strathspey free kick was flicked on by Duncan, and James McShane turned the ball towards goal. His effort was blocked on the line (it may have gone over) then, as the ball bounced clear, it was squeezed into the net by Jake Thomsen, maybe going in off his backside as there was much amusement and banter from the Jags supporters behind the goal. Regardless it was a goal and Strathspey were leading for the first time.

Wick created numerous chances as they pushed for an equaliser and eventually they were rewarded after 75 minutes when a shot a goal was saved by Donaldson, but Mark Macadie was on hand to tap home the rebound from inside the six-yard box.

The general feeling was that Wick would now go on and clinch victory but moments later Strathspey were awarded a free kick 25 yards from goal and Kieran Chalmers stepped up to blast the ball into the top corner of the net (pictured below).

There were four minutes remaining when Wick deservedly got another equaliser, MacNab's effort being deflected into his own net by Liam McDade.

A fabulous game to watch and a fair result in my opinion. A thoroughly enjoyable afternoon all round at a very friendly club, whose officials and volunteers were more than happy to chat and assist with things like badges and teamsheets.

I always love visiting the Highlands and I will do my utmost to return North as soon as possible.

INVERURIE LOCO WORKS (Harlaw Park)

2020/21 ABERDEENSHIRE AND DISTRICT FA CUP FINAL, FORMARTINE UNITED 1-3 FRASERBURGH, ATTENDANCE: 400 (est)

The best laid plans and all that. 

When I arranged this trip to the North of Scotland, my Wednesday night game of choice was Strathspey Thistle versus Golspie Sutherland to be followed by Fort William versus Fraserburgh on the Saturday.

Unfortunately Golspie withdrew from the North of Scotland Cup, forfeiting the tie, because of Covid. This was then followed by the news that Fort William had been ordered to play all their games away from home this season due to the condition of their pitch.

With nothing much else on offer,  it was hobsons choice, so I pointed the car in the direction of Inverurie. I don't mean to sound disparaging about the match of choice, it is just that if I was going to Harlaw Park, I would have preferred to watch Inverurie Loco Works play at home.

Tonight Harlaw Park was the neutral venue for the Aberdeenshire Cup Final, which was held over from last season because of Covid-19. The finalists Formartine United and Fraserburgh played each other on the opening day of the Highland League last Saturday, with The Broch winning 3-0 at Bellslea Park.

 

The Aberdeenshire Cup was first competed for in 1887/88, with Aberdeen FC being the inaugural winners. They currently hold the record for most wins, 35.

A close encounter was anticipated this evening,  with both finalists recent winners of the Cup. Formartine won the trophy in 2017/18 whilst Fraserburgh are the current holders after winning last time the final was played.

Fraserburgh started the brightest and had the best of the early chances. It was slightly against the run of play that Formartine took the lead after 20 minutes when a long ball was headed into the path of Scott Lisle who fired home from inside the area.

United defended resolutely and were happy to play on the counter attack and went into the half time break leading by that solitary goal, despite the woodwork rescuing them on a couple of occasions.

Within five minutes of the restart, a long punt into the box was allowed to bounce by the defender and, as the goalkeeper came out to attempt to collect, Paul Campbell nipped in to head home an equaliser for Fraserburgh (pictured left).

It was game on now. After 58 minutes The Broch took the lead when Scott Barbour picked the ball up and curled a beauty into the top corner of the net from 20 yards out. A stunning strike indeed.

It was Campbell again who ensured that Fraserburgh retained the trophy after 77 minutes when he latched onto a back pass, that fell just short, and rounded 'keeper before smashing the ball home.

A deserved victory for Fraserburgh and a very good match to watch for the neutral.

THE STANKS (Berwick-upon-Tweed)

BERWICK CHARITIES CUP FINAL 2021, THE ANGEL ALKIES 4-3 THE BOTTLERS, ATTENDANCE: 345 (h/c)

When an opportunity arises to watch a game at a unique venue, then I am never usually someone who says no. With this in mind, a chance to "tick off" The Stanks was never going to be refused, especially having seen various photos and reports over the last couple of months, so from watching a game at Meggetland Stadium in Edinburgh in the afternoon it was a quick trip down the A1 to Berwick.

The border town of Berwick-upon-Tweed has historically been at the forefront of conflicts between England and Scotland as control passed between the two nations. For defence of the town fortifications were built around the 14th century and the town became walled, however by the 16th century, due to advances in artillery, these walls were largely ineffective.

In 1558, construction began on a bastioned fortification, first found in Italy at Verona, and it is these Elizabethan ramparts that survive to this day.

In the shadow of these steep walls there is a patch of land which is just about large enough to have a pitch and football has been played on The Stanks, mostly to raise money for charity, for over 100 years. It is on this pitch the annual Berwick Charities Cup competition takes place. The photographs I had seen of the place did not do it justice. What a sight to behold!

This year's tournament has seen 11 teams whittled down to two, The Angel Alkies and The Bottlers. The competition certainly grabbed the attention of the locals and a crowd of well over 300 was present.

With all due respect to both sets of players, my expectations of a decent game were low but I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. The game was a cracker and some good goals were scored. There were clearly some footballers playing. In my opinion, The Bottlers looked the more accomplished side but, as their name implied, they ended out losing out by the odd goal in seven to the Angel Alkies.

It was a lengthy journey home for myself and the key in the door was around 2.30am. It was well worth it. If you haven't been to a game at The Stanks I would strongly advise you to put it on your bucket list and If anyone says its just a public field, well...

Despite not heading to Nardini's in Largs today,
I wasn't going to be denied an ice cream!

TYNECASTLE FC (Meggetland Stadium)

EAST OF SCOTLAND LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION, TYNECASTLE 3-2 SAUCHIE JUNIORS, ATTENDANCE: 72 (h/c)

The beauty of this hobby is how quickly plans can change, in the case of today, it was overnight. I should have been heading for a day on the North Ayrshire coast, watching Largs Thistle, but I ended up on the opposite side of the country as a very interesting double presented itself.

The Berwick Charities Cup Final was taking place at 6.30pm at a venue that, after seeing photographs and reports over the last few weeks, simply must be visited so, with this in mind a game nearer to Berwick upon Tweed was required and, after discussion with the others in the travelling party, we ended up at the rather splendid Meggetland Stadium.

The Meggetland Stadium is a council owned facility in Edinburgh and the main pitch has a 500 stand. The grass pitch is used by Boroughmuir Rugby Club but in 2018 Tynecastle moved to set up home here.

Tynecastle FC were formed in 1928 as a boys club and remained so until 2005 when they merged with Tollcross United and the joined the senior football ranks. The club played at Tollcross United's Fernieside Recreation Ground before moving to share the Saughton Enclosure with Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale in 2015. The club certainly fell on their feet when the moved to the superb Meggetland in 2018. As you can guess with a club called Tynecastle, they play in the same maroon colours as Heart of Midlothian.

It was a boiling hot afternoon and the initial pace of the game reflected this but once Sauchie opened the scoring through Connor Kelly, after a howler from Tynecastle goalkeeper Kyle Leiper who let the ball squirm under him, the game certainly livened up. By half time the homesters were 3-1 up, thanks to a Luke Kennedy double and an effort from Taylor Hendry. All of the goals were excellent and well worked, the football clearly doing justice to the wonderful playing surface.

The second half continued in similar fashion to the first with both teams going for it, obviously Sauchie were susceptible to the counter as they chased the game. Ross Crawford pulled a goal back for the visitors, again Leiper not covering himself in glory, before Tynecastle had a chance to extend their lead when they were awarded a penalty. Kennedy missed the chance of a hat-trick when his effort was saved by Chic Bell.

With 5 minutes remaining Sauchie were awarded a penalty of their own and the chance to grab a point but Leiper redeemed himself by saving Kelly's spot kick to earn his side the victory. A thoroughly enjoyable encounter and credit to both teams who played some excellent football throughout.