Aviemore Thistle claim first silverware of new season after spotkicks
The Strathspey & Badenoch Welfare League season’s first item of silverware was up for grabs on Tuesday night as Thistle and United locked horns in the Dalvey Cup Final.
A decent turn out at Cromdale was anticipating a close contest and they were not to be disappointed.
United took the lead after only five minutes when a ball into the box was fumbled by Jags keeper Xavio Vastano, and hitman Fraser Greenlees was in the right place at the right time to drill into the empty net.
The were no more goals in the first half but United edged the opening 45 as the better side.
And they made the best possible start to the second half with a second goal in the 55th minute which was a near carbon copy of their opener.
Jags keeper Vastano failed to hold another cross into the box and Kalen Clark was on hand this time to stab home.
United could have rightly thought they had one hand on the Dalvey Cup already but Aviemore had other ideas as they knuckled down and got back into the game.
A change in Aviemore’s formation gave the Jags more of a foothold and Rory Mackinnon pulled a goal back 10 minutes later as he found himself in enough space to tap home unchallenged.
And in the 75th minute it was game on when Mackinnon grabbed a second with a cheeky nutmeg of United keeper Callum Liggertwood to pull the Jags level.
But there were to be no further goals came during the remainder in regular time meaning the game would be decided by penalties.
David Robertson, Declan Brannan and Dermot McKenna held their nerve and were all successful from the spot for Aviemore while stopper Vastano more than made up for his earlier fumbles by saving twice to ensure the Jags lifted the trophy.
The first David Ritchie & Sons league fixtures of the new season take place on Tuesday and are as follows: Badenoch United v Cromdale, Grantown United v Aviemore Thistle and FC Abernethy v Grantown Rovers.