Amateur Football

PREVIOUS WINNERS TO MEET IN LAST FOUR CLASH The last two winners of the North of Tay Cup will meet in the semi-finals of this season’s competition after both recorded 4-1 victories in their quarter final ties, writes our Amateur correspondent.

Menzieshill AFC lost their grip on the trophy last season after a surprising early round exit, so they will be looking to atone for that lapse. They were locked at 1-1 with Tayside Fire Brigade at half-time, but upped the tempo in the second half for a comfortable enough victory.

A Sean Tucker hat-trick and one from Lee Roeleveld put AFC through. Lloyd Spowart scored for the Firies. Last season’s winners, Letham AFC, started off on the wrong foot going down to an early Mark Mcguire strike. But after they equalised from the penalty spot the writing was on the wall for United.

A further two goals before half-time were supplemented by a Letham fourth after the break.

“Street wise” was the description given to the winners’ performance by a Broughty official.

It has been some season for Lowson United and a semi-final berth in the big district cup after defeating AHSFP 2-1 was a further just reward for their endeavours. Cammy Howie opened the scoring for them following a corner from the left, but Richie Fenwick made it 1-1 by half-time. Lowson might have been up against it as their keeper had been sent off in the first half, but new signing Kieran Crighton got his first goal for the club and this was enough to see them through. The Arbroath side probably had the better chances but failed to convert these.

In the other North of Tay tie, Douglas Athletic beat St Johns 2-1 and will take on Lowson in the last four. The three Premier League matches played all had a relegation atmosphere attached.

A 3-2 win for Newport at Invergowrie was probably the most significant of the results as this keeps Gowrie rooted to the bottom and somewhat remote from those above them. The other Port, Portcullis, also won, defeating Merpro 3-1. Both Newport and Portcullis have played six and seven more games, respectively, than Logie Harp who are eight and seven points behind the pair and have hit a bad losing streak.

This continued on Saturday when they went down 4-1 to Morgan Academy FPS at Fairmuir Park. Neil Bone, then Craig Stevenson were on the scoresheet for the school side with Connor Kennedy adding a third with a brilliant solo effort, slipping past five men straight down the centre of the park on a run from within his own half.

Chris Hadden pulled one back for Harp with some fine individual skill before Jason Alexander put the match out of Harp’s reach with a shot from close range. FPS’ win elevates them into third place, although they have played more games than some below them.