Golspie Sutherland FC suffer cup final heartbreak
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A BELOW par performance cost Golspie Sutherland dearly in a 3-2 defeat to St Duthus in the Football Times Cup final at Dudgeon Park.
It brought to an end an eight-match winning run on a day to forget for the Sutherland side.
Golspie took the lead on the stroke of half time with a wonder goal from Craig Ross but they lost their way after the break.
Two goals from the league's top scorer Ben Bruce and another one from Liam Rostock turned the final on its head before Adam Sutherland netted a late consolation.
“We seemed to fall to pieces during a 15 minute spell, it cost us the game,” said Golspie manager Andrew Banks. “There was too many high balls and long balls, it is something we hadn't being doing all season. We've been on a good run and you never want to lose a cup final but if there is a time to lose it is better being in the cup than in the league.”
Chances were few and far between in the first half. But the deadlock was broken in the final minute of the half when Ross picked the ball up 30 yards out and smashed an unsaveable shot past Johnny Allan in the Saints' goal.
But Saints looked a different team after the break and Bruce equalised in the 50th minute after he shrugged off his marker to slip the ball past Golspie keeper Graeme Williamson.
Bruce struck again seven minutes later when he latched onto a pass from Stefan McRitchie to net.
Saints had their tails up now and Liam Rostock came off the bench to score in the 78th minute with a spectacular lob.
Golspie mounted a late rally and Sutherland pulled one back in the 86th minute when he scored from close range. But Saints held out without any further mishaps to lift the trophy.
In the league, Bonar Bridge produced one of their best displays of the season in a 4-2 defeat to Inverness Athletic at Dornoch.
Adam Mackay scored twice in stoppage time for Bonar after Athletic had taken a 4-0 lead.
In the Caithness derby, Halkirk United and Thurso drew 1-1 at Morrison Park.
The Bunilidh Thistle v Orkney match was postponed due to Couper Park being waterlogged.
Fixtures: Tomorrow – League – Bonar Bridge v Golspie Sutherland (at Dornoch); Orkney v Invergordon (12.45pm); St Duthus v Halkirk United; Thurso v Inverness Athletic. Kick-offs at 1pm unless stated.
