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Alness book Pattison Cup final berth after hard-fought Black Isle encounter





ALNESS Athletic booked their place in the Pattison Cup final after a 3-0 victory over Fortrose Union at King George V Park last Saturday.

Athletic were made to work for their win in a competitive match.

A back post header from Gavin Legge in the 19th minute, from a Craig Munro delivery, separated the teams at the break..

The nearest Fortrose came to goal in the first half was a Kenneth Whyte effort in the 28th minute which rebounded off the crossbar.

Daniel MacIver tested Andrew Maitland early in the second half with a point-blank header which the Alness goalkeeper did well to tip over the crossbar.

At the other end Jordan Black flashed a shot just over in the 63rd minute as the home side tried to get back on level terms.

But it was Athletic who doubled their lead three minutes later. Chris Graham cut in from the left and drove a low shot past Fortrose keeper Craig MacLean.

Black then forced a save from Maitland before Shaun Robertson made sure of victory when he raced clear to tuck the ball away.

In the other semi, Balintore came from behind to beat Invergordon Social Club 2-1 at the Recreation Grounds.

Daniel Lowe gave Social Club an early lead but Terence Brady levelled before the break.

The tie was in the balance but James Metcalfe hit the winner for Balintore 15 minutes from the end to set up a re-run of the first final of the season.

CONTIN picked up their first points of the campaign when they came from 3-1 down to beat Ross-shire Club 5-3 last Wednesday night.

Jamal Ali gave Contin the lead in the 15th minute with a spectacular 25-yard drive but Ross-shire Club levelled in the 27th minute when Kegan Stewart converted from the penalty spot after being taken down in the box by Ryan MacKenzie.

Liam Muir nudged Ross Club ahead 10 minutes from the break after a Stewart shot was headed off the goal-line.

It looked all over for Contin when Muir made it 3-1 in the 61st minute. But Contin staged a remarkable recovery in the last 15 minutes of the match.

Kevin Munro pulled one back when he headed in a Scott Milligan cross then Cammy Bell levelled from the penalty spot in the 78th minute after being felled in the box.

Ryan Dow cut inside to tuck away a low drive eight minutes later to give Contin the lead and in the final minute Milligan capped a fine display with his side’s fifth goal.

Leaders, Alness Athletic eased to a 6-2 win over Dornoch City at Pavilion Park.

Mark Lamont led the way with a hat-trick and Shaun Robertson chipped in with a double as Athletic moved into joint-top spot. Michael Dunnet netted Athletic’s other goal, while Ayah Rattananphithak and Eddie Mason replied for City.

Fortrose Union joined Athletic in pole position after they came from behind to beat Tain Thistle 2-1 at King George V Park.

Martin Smith gave Thistle the lead but Fortrose hit back with goals from Jordan Knight and Rhys Shewan.

In the other match, Balintore and Invergordon Social Club shared six goals in a thriller at Lower Seaboard Park.

Steve Horner scored either side of a James Metcalfe goals to give Social Club a 2-1 lead at half time.

Terence Brady levelled early in the second period before Lachlan MacLeod fired Social Club into a 3-2 lead.

But a Jordan Hales leveller six minutes from the end secured a valuable point for the home side.

Fixtures – Saturday, May 31 – Pattison Cup semifinals (Sponsored by Inver Inn) – 3pm Balintore v Alness Athletic. Wednesday, June 4 – League – 7.30pm - Fortrose Union v Balintore; Ross-shire Club v Tain Thistle; Dornoch City v Contin; Alness Athletic v Invergordon Social Club.


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