Balliemore Cup – second round

Oban Celtic 1 Beauly 3

Oban Celtic put up a strong fight before eventually going down 3-1 to Balliemore Cup holders Beauly in their 12.30pm throw up at Ganavan. Celtic had Lee Askew, Ewan MacCorquodale and David Graham out through injury, whilst Scott Burnett was unavailable. Neil Carmichael returned.

Both teams went into the tie in buoyant mood after two straight wins apiece but Beauly’s fitness and experience told in the end.

The Celtic players and officials have to be commended for sweeping water off the pitch ahead of throw up, allowing the game to go ahead.

Beauly took the lead after just six minutes through Calum Morrison who got onto the end of a high ball into the goal area and slotted the ball home to make it 1- 0.

Celtic came right back into the game and won a penalty after Beauly keeper Josh Grant kicked the ball inside the ‘D’. But the spot-hit from David MacInnes was ruled out as Fraser MacMillan was adjudged to have moved too early.

Neil Carmichael avoided a couple of tackles and bundled the ball home to pull the sides level a minute before the break.

This was a thrilling encounter with no quarter asked nor given and the outcome remained in the balance until 15 minutes from time when Beauly top scorer Jack MacDonald made it 2-1. The goal came following a freehit just outside the ‘D’. Quick movement from MacDonald saw him lose his marker which gave him the chance to send a low, hard shot into the bottom corner of the net.

Ross Forbes sealed the win three minutes later, making it 3-1. Forbes dribbled the ball into a shooting position around 18 yards from goal and sent a great shot into the top corner of the net, giving the keeper no chance.

Beauly will now play Kilmallie or Glasgow Mid Argyll in the Balliemore Cup semi-finals on Saturday June 18.

Oban Celtic manager Kenny Wotherspoon reflected on the game: ‘That’s the best we have played this season and, on another day, it could have been us winning the tie late on. We looked tired in the latter stages of the game but a few of our lads had been ill during the week. I thought young Lewis MacPhee was tremendous as was Rory Bruce but, in saying that, I don’t think any of our players underperformed.

‘Credit to Beauly though who deserved the win and they are of course defending the trophy.

‘What we did learn though is that if we can achieve our aim for this year, which is winning South Division 1, we will be more than capable of holding our own in the National Division.

‘We now look forward to our next game which is Kyles Athletic in the Camanachd Cup and we’ll hopefully have a full squad for the trip to Tighnabruaich.’

Caberfeidh 3 Aberdour 1

Caberfeidh are through to the last four of the Balliemore Cup after they beat Aberdour 3-1 at Castle Leod.

The home officials spent time sweeping water off the pitch after the day’s earlier encounter between the Caberfeidh seconds and Aberdeen University.

Conditions improved though and Aberdour made a good start against their higher league opponents with Angus Thorburn going close early on.

‘Cabers’ settled though and Callum MacCulloch took advantage of a defensive lapse to score after 10 minutes.

Aberdour responded in the best way, drawing level on 17 minutes. After some good linkup play, Roddy MacColl slipped the ball to Angus Thorburn who steadied himself on the wet surface, turned his man and blasted the ball into the net to make it 1-1.

‘Cabers’ regained the lead on 24 minutes when the visiting defence failed to clear their lines and Liam Symonds pushed the ball past a helpless Tom Bowerman in the Aberdour goal.

‘Cabers’ began to take control of the centre line in the second half and Liam Symonds scored a great goal on 57 minutes, his second of the game, after finding a few yards of space.

Caberfeidh will now play Strathglass or Taynuilt in the Balliemore Cup semi-finals on Saturday June 18 whilst Aberdour will take great encouragement that they are competing well with teams from a higher division.