WATCH: Walking footballers stroll to success in first festival outing
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A walking football team from Tain have finally hit their stride after entering an Inverness-based festival for the sport.
St Duthus walking football team, who formed earlier this year, entered their first ever organised competition on Saturday June 25, taking part in the North Region Walking Football Festival.
The event, which was held at Canal Park, the Inverness home of Highland RFC, featured teams from all over the North of Scotland.
The games were played in a round robin format with men (over 50s) and women (over 40s) representing their sides.
St Duthus were handed a tough start against a very capable Scone side, who were well organised and won the match 2–1. The Tain men redeemed themselves in the next game against Elgin A with a score draw.
They picked up their first win of the festival with a 2–0 victory over Drumnadrochit, and hit their stride after that with a resounding win against Portree Pirates – putting their swashbuckling counterparts to the sword with four goals to their name.
A much anticipated Easter Ross derby was to follow as Saints came back from certain defeat to draw with Ross County in the final seconds of the game. Star man Mike Sutherland levelled the scores with a last gasp kick of the ball.
The peak result of the afternoon was a slender yet impressive 1–0 win over Inverness Caledonian Thistle, which was just reward for great play all afternoon from defenders Jeff McDermid and Allan Whiteford who kept a tight ship, capably aided by the safe hands of Brian Macangus in goal.
Elgin B then held St Duthus to a 1–1 draw as the legs began to tire and for the first time on the day, they drew a blank against Fort William, losing 2-0.
A 2–2 with Lochaber followed, before the day's festivities were rounded off with a final game against Scone, losing 1–0.
