Invergordon prepare to defend Football Times Cup trophy as Inverness Athletic await in the final this weekend
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Invergordon will try to defend their Football Times Cup trophy this weekend as they play the 2023/24 final against Inverness Athletic.
Last year Invergordon were the ones celebrating after getting the better of St Duthus in the final, winning 3-1 thanks to a Ken Morrison strike and Andrew Miller’s late double.
Inverness Athletic had lost in last season’s first round, going out in a penalty shoot-out despite earning a surprising 2-2 draw after 90 minutes away at Golspie Sutherland.
This year, Athletic had no such trouble in getting through the rounds to the showcase match.
First off they defeated Thurso at home in the quarter final – having received a bye past the first round – thanks to goals from Danni Bruce and Aidan Hersee (2).
Then Bonar Bridge awaited in the semi final. Although Bonar have struggled for form in recent years, they have proven they are capable of getting results this season – in particular at Inverness Athletic’s expense – so it was never going to be a straightforward victory.
Win, though, they did. Aidan Hersee and Aiden Grant put them two goals up before Adam Mackay responded for Bonar, only for Danni Bruce to restore Athletic’s two-goal lead before half time.
Mackay pulled one back again just after the restart, but Stephen Rennie made sure of Athletic’s berth in the final by scoring their fourth.
Invergordon’s journey to the final has not been so smooth.
They actually lost 2-0 to Loch Ness in the first round of the competition, only for the defending league champions to be thrown out of the competition for fielding an ineligible player – an accusation they contested.
Invergordon did not care, though, as their path to potential silverware was restored.
Clachnacuddin A stood in their way of a final four spot, but Blair Morrison swept them aside with goals either side of half time on the way to a 2-0 win.
The semi finals pitted Invergordon against North Caley heavyweight Golspie Sutherland two weeks ago, where again Gary Campbell’s men were able to prevail.
Korbyn Cameron opened the scoring for Golspie, but James Ross and Andrew Miller turned things around just after the hour mark, before Ryan McFee sealed the win in stoppage time.
In a second successive final, then, Invergordon will undoubtedly be hoping to get their hands on the Football Times Cup once again and win the first trophy of the season.
