Teenagers lead line to take Fort into quarter-final

Holders Fort William will visit Oban Celtic in the Balliemore Cup quarterfinal on May 26 after three 16-year-old forwards made history as Fort booked their passage with a penalty shoot-out win.

Lachie Shaw, Victor Smith and Lewis Clark were the young trio starting together for the first time as Fort drew 2-2 with Inveraray in an An Aird thriller.

Extra time produced no further scoring and in the penalty shoot-out schoolboy Shaw held his nerve to hit the winner in a 4-2 spot success.

Victor Smith, son and namesake of the co-manager, scored the first goal of a game with a penalty and then converted the second spot hit in the shoot-out.

Co-boss Smith said: “It’s the first time we’ve fielded three forwards so young in our starting line-up.

“We had the best of the first half but Inveraray came back strongly and we were glad to hang on to the end of 90 minutes.

“It was end to end in extra time and we were so relieved to see young Lachie hit that shoot-out winner. The tireless Sean Cameron hardly stopped running for two hours for us while Garry MacPherson gave an exhibition of class for Inveraray.”

Fort are now at home to Oban Celtic in the Na- tional Division on May 19, the week before the quarter-final. Celts, who have never won this trophy, came from 2-1 down to knock out Aberdour 6-3.

Teenager Ross Macmillan fired a treble with Andy Macdonald netting a double and skipper Daniel Madej also on target for the Green and Whites. David Mackenzie (2) and Andrew Fraser responded for the Fifers.

Inverness are one of four teams never to have tasted Balliemore success who are into the last eight. David Campbell slammed a hat trick with Jamie Mackenzie, Dougie Rankin and Charlie Macdonald also counting in their 6-2 win at Taynuilt. It was 6-0 before Scott Dempster and Stuart Scott hit the home goals.

Colin Macleod’s men have earned themselves a home tie with Glasgow Mid Argyll, who won 4-1 at Strathglass with Jamie MacFadyen netting twice.

Glengarry, winners in 1999, knocked out five times winners Bute 2-0 at Invergarry with second half strikes from Nick Dalgety and Raymond Robertson. They will now be at home to Aberdeen University or Beauly, whose tie at Balgownie was off due to an unplayable pitch.

Allan Clark helped himself to a hat trick as Ballachulish sparked hopes of their first success in this cup by thumping Col Glen 7-0. Scott Henderson (2), Duncan Macdonald and Lewis Bryson completed the spree. Balla will now visit Kilmallie, who gained a walkover when Tayforth failed to raise a team.

“We were glad to hang on to the end of 90 minutes”