Goals in either half from Andrew Bell and David MacGruer were enough to secure the silverware for high-flying Balintore, who defeated the same opposition in the Pattison Cup final earlier in the season.

Ross-shire Club forced a couple of corner kicks early on but the Balintore defence comfortably dealt with the aerial threat.

Balintore took the lead with practically their first real attack in the 11th minute.

Bell got on the end of a good move down the left flank and swept the ball past Ross-shire goalkeeper Stephen Hyslop from 12 yards.

Ross Powell came close to doubling the lead three minutes later with a long range shot which cannoned off the crossbar.

Balintore continued to press and Bell should have claimed his second of the tie in the 17th minute but he headed wide of target from six yards.

A couple of minutes from the break Powell was denied by the woodwork again when his in-swinging corner rebounded off the far post.

Donald Stewart - who got married the day before - looked the club's most dangerous player.

He was first to threaten at the start of the second half when he cut in from the left wing but his low drive ended up in the side netting.

Ewen Thain got in on the act a minute later with a 30-yard drive which Balintore goalkeeper Ross Henderson did well to smother.

But the Dingwall men were dealt a fatal blow in the 61st minute when MacGruer sent a 25-yarder into the top corner of the net beyond the reach of the Ross keeper.

The league's top goalscorer Andy Ripely had the chance to increase his tally for the season a couple of minutes later but he just failed to connect with a cross right in front of goal.

The chances kept coming and Powell looked certain to score after being put through by Ripley but his shot clipped the top of the crossbar on its way over.

Jean MacKenzie, representing Seaboard Cup sponsors Commercial Hotel, Balintore, hands the trophy to Balintore captain Angus MacDonald.

Ross substitute Craig Sutherland got clear of his marker in the 82nd minute but he fired wide of Henderson's left hand post with the goal in his sights.

At the other end Hyslop produced a magnificent save when he tipped an Angus MacDonald piledriver over the top.

Shona Watson, proprietor of the Commercial Hotel, and cup sponsors, presented the players with their trophies after the match. Balintore's Davie Calderwood received the man-of-the-match award.

* Cromarty moved up to fifth place in the table after an emphatic 5-2 victory against Dingwall Vertex at Victoria Park last Wednesday.

Andrew MacPherson gave Cromarty an early lead and Gordon Thomson doubled the advantage with a rasping 30-yard free kick.

Steven Masson threw Vertex a lifeline with a goal before the break but a second half double from Thomas Nicolson plus a Ruaridh Rogan strike put the Black Isle side out of reach. Masson scored Vertex's other goal.

Leaders Balintore are just one win away from clinching the title after an impressive 5-1 victory over Inver at Portmahomack.

The goals were shared about with Gavin MacKenzie, Ally MacDonald, Angus MacDonald, Jamie Martin and Andrew Ripley all on target for the Seaboard side after Andrew Durrand had given Inver the lead.

Alness Athletic kept their slim title hopes alive with an 8-2 romp over Invergordon Social Club at Dalmore Park. Three 40 year olds in the Athletic team defied their combined age of 120 to get on the scoresheet. Veterans Kiki Dingwall, Steve Murray and Terry Stirling found the back of the net along with James Cochrane (2), Martin Douglas, David Niven and Jamie MacDonald.

In the other match, Ross-shire Club defeated Tain Thistle 4-1 at the Jubilee Park.

Club's Donald Stewart scored the only goal of the first half with a well-taken free kick.

Ross started the second half brightly and Graham MacLeod made it 2-0 in the 50th minute with a scorching 35-yard drive. Scott MacLeay added a third five minutes later after a fine solo run. Daniel Christie scored a late consolation for Thistle.

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