St Duthus boss tells team to put cup final pain behind them
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ST Duthus co-manager Stuart Ross is backing his side to mount a serious title challenge in the North Caledonian League this season despite the disappointment of losing 3–1 to Orkney in the Jock MacKay Cup final at Invergordon.
It was only Saints’ second defeat of the season and Ross is confident his side can be among the honours.
He said: “Our league form has been very good this year.
“In previous seasons we have been quite good in cup competitions.
“But this time we want to focus on the league and put in a challenge.”
On the cup final defeat, he said: “We just took too long to get started.
“We conceded just before half time and the heads went down for a while.
“We didn’t really start to play until about 20 minutes to go.
“It just wasn’t our day. But congratulations to Orkney, they deserved to win.”
Saints were without top scorer Ben Bruce through injury. Ross Tokely and Jon Campbell were also unavailable for the big match.
There was little between the teams in the first half.
It took a bizarre goal in the final minute of the half to break the deadlock.
Liam Delday managed to send over a looping cross into the box which Saints’ keeper Ali Matheson failed to hold.
The ball fell at the feet of defender John Skinner who could only help it into the net.
Saints’ suffered another blow within two minutes of the second half getting under way when man-of-the-match Delday nipped in to score from close range.
Callan Jessiman added a third for the by now rampant islanders on the hour mark.
But Saints’ mounted a late rally and Liam Rostock pulled one back with a superbly struck shot from the edge of the 18-yard box.
Robbie Murray was denied by the post shortly afterwards but Orkney held out comfortably enough to collect the silverware.
In the league, Thurso maintained their 100 per cent record with a 3–2 victory against Inverness Athletic in the Highland capital. Halkirk United defeated Bunillidh Thistle 6–0, while Golspie Sutherland trounced county rivals Bonar Bridge 13–0.
