Fort William added their name to the illustrious list – Kyles Athletic, their opponents this time, Newtonmore and Kingussie – in a final that will live long in the memory.

Fort William looked the more incisive from the outset. Veteran Victor Smith was the target man for ball supply from the centre line, with Gary Innes and Gordie MacKinnon looking to apply the final shots.

Duncan Rodger managed to get himself into referee Ronnie Campbell's notebook in the fifth minute with a rash challenge on Kyles forward Duncan Kerr.

The first real chance came to Fort William in the seventh minute when Kyles keeper Kenny MacDonald was forced into a good stop from a Victor Smith shot from wide on the right.

A minute later and he was called into action again as John MacDonald powered in from the left side. It was Kyles' turn to go close in the ninth minute as a Kerr run down the right wing led to a cross which came to full centre David Martin, playing up front, whose shot hit keeper Scott McNeil.

Fort William eventually took the lead in the 29th minute when the ball came to Smith on the left edge of the D and his backhand shot flew into the net.

Kyles' Colin McColl earned a place in the referee's notebook with a rash challenge on John MacDonald.

Just before half time, the competition between the two number sevens overflowed into a booking for Fort's Chris Bamber for fouling Grant Irvine.

Big Jim Clarke came on in place of Simpson for the Fort at the break, and he made an immediate impact. Gary Innes passed to Smith who slipped the ball to Clarke and he lashed home a fierce backhand drive to put Fort 2-0 up.

Three minutes later, Kerr forced a superb save out of McNeil in the Fort goal with a long-range rocket. In the 66th minute, Gordie MacKinnon missed a clear opening for the Garrison side.

But two minutes later, a superb strike by Innes into the top left corner made it 3-0 and that seemed to be the end of the game as a contest.

Kyles had a clear claim for a penalty in the 72nd minute as Tom Whyte was tripped by John MacDonald, but the referee saw nothing wrong in the challenge.

A couple of minutes later, Victor Smith was substituted by Mark Lawrie, shaking hands with everybody within reach in recognition that he had, perhaps, seen the last of first team shinty.

With just 14 minutes left on the clock, the Kyles support was at last given something to shout about as Fraser MacDonald evaded his marker on the left side of the D to drill home.

Then, with ten minutes left, a swerving shot from distance from Duncan Kerr found its way high into the net, beyond the reach of McNeil's caman to make it 3-2.

After much of the game had belonged to Fort William, suddenly, there was real hope for the men from Tighnabruaich.

John MacLeod earned a yellow card for a cynical foul on Kerr as he raced yet again toward goal.

Incredibly, Kyles were back on level terms with just eight minutes left. Following the free hit by Miller, the ball came to Kerr who turned and lashed home another into the roof of the net.

Kyles had done the seemingly impossible, but it was Fort who had the final say.

With four minutes on the clock, Niall MacPhee lobbed in a ball to Innes who slipped it to Clark square in front of goal and the big forward made no mistake to restore the Fort William lead and claim the cup.

Apart from joining the privileged few who have won the cup three times on the trot, the win also marked Victor Smith's unique feat of collecting a winner's medal in both the senior and junior Scottish cups, adding this one to the Sutherland Cup medal he won earlier.

The winner of the Albert Smith medal for player of the match was Kyles' Donald Irvine.

It's three in a row – and membership of exclusive club!

Printer friendly version

Email this article to a friend

Bookmark this

---