Sudden death leaves brave Golspie gutted
GOLSPIE Sutherland were knocked out of the SWL Cup final after they missed their first three penalties in a sudden death shoot-out against semi-final opponents Muir of Ord Rovers at King George V Park last Saturday.
The teams had shared 10 goals in a thriller, but Golspie failed to find the net in the penalty decider and were out of the competition.
Golspie got off to a flyer when Sean Henstridge got on the end of a Kyle MacLean cross to head home the opener in the second minute. However, Rovers were on level terms in the 18th minute when John MacLeod picked his spot from 12 yards after being put through by Daniel MacLennan.
But Golspie restored their lead nine minutes later when Henstridge struck again, scoring from an acute angle.
The home side should have gone further ahead after the break but Ronnie Jones missed two good chances.
And it was visitors who drew level after the hour mark when MacLeod smashed home a Finnis cross.
Rovers got their noses in front with 10 minutes to go when Kevin Lewis headed in a Mulligan cross.
Golspie refused to lie down and they grabbed a deserved equaliser in the 87th minute when Jones knocked in MacLean delivery.
Golspie started the extra-time period on the front foot and Aaron Christie made it 4-3 in the 93rd minute when he fired a low drive in from 20 yards.
Rovers responded and Alan Geegan levelled the scores again when he blasted the ball high into the net after a MacLeod header was blocked.
MacLeod was not to be denied a hat-trick and he was on target again in the 114th minute when he got on the end of a Mulligan cross to make it 5-4.
But with just three minutes of extra-time remaining MacLean turned scorer, bundling the ball into the net after a goalmouth scramble.
The penalty shoot-out was a big let down for Golspie as Rovers won 3-0 to book a final spot against Thurso.
Golspie, did however, pick up a point from the match as it was also doubled as a league fixture.
