Double celebration for unbeaten Brodick
Jubilant Brodick FC were in high spirits last week when they rounded off their season with a celebratory double – winning the league championship and the Arran Football Association Cup final at Sandbraes. For a full report and pictures,
Lamlash 1 Brodick 4
Heavy rain on cup final morning did not dampen the players’ spirits as the old rivals squared up in a repeat of last year’s final.
Lamlash hoped to retain the trophy and league champions Brodick sought the double, a nice set up for a cracking end to the season.
Lamlash won the toss and took first-half advantage of shooting down the slope. Brodick seemed happy to contain Lamlash but a speculative effort from James Todd took a massive deflection off Brodick defender Matt Dobson and looped over the helpless Adamson into the net.
The Lamlash crowd celebrated and the goal seemed to lift their players. They were unlucky not to double the lead before halftime with another Todd effort striking the post.
Soon after, Brodick’s Toby Wingham weaved his way through the Lamlash defence before ballooning the ball over the bar from close range. In truth, the first half saw a lot of good play with very few clear chances for both teams.
The second half saw Brodick take the game to Lamlash with Wingham moving up top with this year’s golden boot winner, Archie McNicol, and the Lamlash defence started to struggle.
Babbies got Brodick level and shared his celebration with some of the Lamlash supporters on the touchline although they did not look too impressed with him.
Again Babbies was involved in controversy when he clashed with keeper David Heenan. Although it appeared accidental, the Lamlash players wanted him off.
Babbies went on a mazy run, beating three Lamlash players and went one on one with Heenan in goal only to scuff the ball wide when it looked easier to score.
A moment of madness from Martin Ross gave Brodick a penalty when he downed Archie McNicol in the box and Iain ‘Keeno’ Keen maintained his season’s 100 per cent conversion rate to put Brodick ahead.
Brodick looked like the team who wanted it more but Lamlash kept battling and Ben Tattersfield was unlucky not to convert a great cross with a diving header at the back post.
Brodick all but clinched victory with 20 minutes to go when Keen’s free kick found its way through a crowded box and past Heenan.
Tattersfield had his work cut out against big Wingham who seemed to spark to life after an altercation with Sam.
Wingham took the ball to his feet before leaving Tattersfield on the deck and firing past the Lamlash keeper sparking a cheeky celebration from the big Englishman who had a massive grin on his face.
The celebrations went on long into the night in Brodick and even some of the Lamlash boys had a drink out of the cup at the Ormidale showing great sportsmanship.
Despite a sore result Lamlash had a good season and it will be interesting to see what happens next year.
Referee Neilly McKechnie had his work cut out at times but did well to keep the game flowing and keep 22 players on the pitch.
Neilly awarded the man of the match award to Lamlash’s James Todd.