Boxing Day clash a Christmas cracker
Strachur and District Shinty Club rounded off 2023 with its annual Boxing Day clash, which saw 26 players gather at Strachurmore for an entertaining game.
Unlike last year’s slow start, the 2023 instalment of this festive tradition began with a decent pace from throw-up, with the Orange team controlling the majority of the play during the early stages.
However, it was the Blues who opened the scoring through the returning Duncan Smart, who did a great job of taking down a pinpoint Sam Bulloch cross and firing home to put his side in front against the run of play.
The Blues did well to keep the Oranges at bay for the remainder of the half, with Stevie Bulloch sweeping up almost everything at the back, whilst Ewan MacDonald made a couple of smart saves to maintain his side’s one-goal advantage heading into the break.
The Oranges had a tremendous start to the second half, with Ollie Adrian, who found himself in an unfamiliar position amongst the forward line, firing a wonderful shot into the top corner to bring the game level.
It was a great finish, but not enough to convince his coach to take him away from fullback for the upcoming season.
As the pace slowed down, with many players showing signs of the festivities of the night before, it would take a fantastic strike from Smart to bring the spark into the game again, as his looping effort from distance found the back of the net to put the Blues in front for the second time.
Ally Mirrlees’ fight and determination in the middle of the park paid off for the Blues, as he set up Smart who made no mistake from close range for his and the Blues’ third of the afternoon.
It wasn’t all doom and gloom for the Oranges though as they played some great shinty at times, especially young Spencer Thoms who caused the Blues all sorts of problems at the back.
And they had a late consolation as Blues’ defender Steven Wilson accidentally flicked the ball into his own net, deceiving MacDonald in goals.
But it was too little, too late as the Blues, for the second year running, came out on top in what was another fantastic festive occasion for the club.