Disappointment for Mallaig as they lose out in extra time
Mallaig missed out on their second trophy of the season after a defeat to Sleat and Strath in the Ross Cup final on Saturday July 28.
It took 30 minutes of extra time to separate the two teams in what was an exhilarating tie which saw both sides throw everything at the chance of silverware.
This was Mallaig’s second cup final of the season and so, having lost to Kyleakin in the GF MacRae Cup final after a poor performance, the team travelled to Kyleakin with a point to prove.
Mallaig got off to a perfect start, scoring after a few minutes thanks to a Ross Douglas header, assisted by player/ manager Jamie MacGregor.
An equaliser for the Skye side came soon after as an in-swinging corner was met by the head of Sleat forward Ben Yoxon.
Mallaig still continued to play some nice attacking football and once again they took the lead through Douglas, when he latched on to a floated Andy Cunningham corner.
The game continued in that manner with chances at each end but with both goalkeepers on top form, the goals were hard to come by.
Sleat were awarded a controversial penalty, but their captain was unable to convert the spot-kick and had his penalty wonderfully saved by Mallaig ’keeper Johnston who dived low to his right to make the save.
Sleat started the better of the two teams in the second half and the equaliser closely followed after Mallaig failed to clear a corner. The Sleat forward dribbled past a couple of Mallaig defenders and fired a low shot into the bottom left corner of the net.
Mallaig came close to pulling ahead once more after substitute Marius Stoian floated a free kick into the box that was met by the head of Ross Douglas who hit the bar.
It was Sleat, however, who took the lead after a corner was flicked on at the front post and took a nick off a Mallaig defender on the way into the net.
Soon after, ’keeper Mark Johnston then pulled off another fantastic save as a long diagonal free kick was head goalwards forcing the goalie to tip it over the bar.
Mallaig’s talisman, Andy Cunningham, eventually produced an equaliser after he latched on to a through ball to round the Sleat goalie and slot the ball in to the empty net to ensure the match went into extra time.
However, Mallaig were unable to continue their pressure and the Sleat forwards capitalised on a defensive mistake to take the lead again.
Sleat got their fifth and final goal of the game as their striker picked the ball up on the left before driving in to the box past the Mallaig defenders and firing into the right corner of the goal.
Mallaig continued to push and had a couple more chances but it proved too little as Sleat’s clinical finishing had killed the game off a secured the cup win for the Broadford side.