Southend in narrow win as they bid to retain cup
Monday night saw the semi-finals of the Arran Haulage Cup being played with the main event being held in Sandbraes Park with cup holders Southend taking on their big rivals Brodick.
It turned out to be a game of few chances with both sides being so even and cancelling each other out.
The difference came in the first half when Donnie Park of Southend was brought down in the area by a mistimed tackle from Gordon ‘Nog’ Hendry.
Ryan Armstrong took the resulting penalty and sent Finlay Sillars the wrong way in the Brodick net.
The game wasn’t short of flash points with some meaty tackles going in from both sides.
Brodick’s new signing Mark Halliday got a swift introduction to Arran football by getting on the wrong side of one of Sandy Kelso’s crunching fouls.
Sandy is making his comeback after a cruciate knee injury which clearly hadn’t affected his attitude for going into hard tackles. He was, however, put in the book for the foul.
Stevie Judge was back in goal for Southend and was on hand to produce a top class diving save to deny Archie McNicol late on as the home team held out to reach the final.
Referee Stevie Crawford gave Ryan man of the match for a great performance in the centre of the park winning tough aerial battles and making some mazy runs. Southend will be aiming to win their eighth Arran Haulage Cup in the past 10 years.