Orkney send Saints marching to defeat in MacKay Cup final
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ST DUTHUS came up short with a below-par display in a 3–1 defeat against Orkney in the Jock MacKay Cup final.
Orkney scored either side of the interval before adding a killer third goal on the hour mark to put the outcome beyond doubt.
Liam Rostock grabbed a consolation counter but it was a case of too little too late for sorry Saints.
“It took us too long to get started,” admitted Saints co-manager Stuart Ross.
“We conceded just before half-time and Orkney got their tails up.
“We didn’t start the second half the way we wanted to, in fact we didn’t really start playing until the last 20 minutes. It just wasn’t our day.
“But congratulations to Orkney, they played well and deserved to win.”
Saints were dealt a blow on the eve of the final when top scorer Ben Bruce was ruled out with an injury.
John Campbell and Ross Tokely were also unavailable for a Saints side that had won their previous seven matches.
In a cagey start to the final, neither side were able to take control and it came down to a mix-up in the Saints defence which led to the opener.
Saints’ goalkeeper Ali Matheny dropped a deep cross at the feet of John Skinner and the defender inadvertently helped it over the goal-line.
Orkney doubled the lead in the 47th minute when man-of-the-match Liam Delday tucked away a square ball from Owen Young.
It looked a long way back for Saints when Callan Jessiman added a third goal for the islanders when he beat Matheson with a low drive.
Saints staged a late rally and Liam Rostock reduced the deficit with a clinical finish from the edge of the 18-yard box.
Saints’ sub Robbie Murray was unlucky with an effort which rebounded off the base of the post but there were no more goals as Orkney held out to secure the silverware.
In the North Caledonian League, champions Golspie Sutherland whipped league new boys Bonar Bridge 13-0.
Elsewhere Halkirk United defeated Bunillidh Thistle 6-0, while Thurso pipped Inverness Athletic 3-2 with an injury time penalty to maintain their 100 per cent record.
