Aviemore Thistle claim second cup of the season
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Aviemore Thistle hoisted their second silverware of the season following a convincing 5-0 win over Boat of Garten Ospreys in the Sangster Cup Final.
This was the second meeting of the sides in three days with the previous Tuesday’s encounter being a proper ding-dong 90 minutes.
A healthy crowd gathered on a showery evening in Boat in the expectation of a repeat but it was a much more one-sided affair.
Both sides were evenly matched in the opening stages as they probed for weaknesses but Boat strikers were outpacing the Jags back line for balls over the top.
Thistle keeper Colin Campbell kept the game at 0-0 with some outstanding saves and a helping hand from the woodwork.
Up at the other end David Robertson tried his luck with a spectacular bicycle kick which was cleared for a corner.
But with half time fast approaching Aviemore managed to find a way through to grab the opening goal.
Robertson’s corner was met by David Ross who jumped the highest to smash Thistle into the lead.
Boat continued to create chances, and Campbell was thrust into action once more, turning a 30 yard strike onto the bar to keep his clean sheet intact.
Things changed after the interval as Aviemore started to dominate possession and create the better chances.
They doubled their lead on 52 minutes when the prolific Rory Mackinnon found a yard of space on the edge of the box and his precise strike looped over Ospreys’ stopper Benn Bremner into the top corner.
The Jags continued laying siege to the Ospreys goal.
This lead to a third goal when good wide play from Damian Paluga and David Robertson saw a great ball whipped across the box to find Finlay Mcdonald lurking at the back post to prod home.
Unlike Tuesday, there would be no comeback for the Ospreys when Aviemore netted a fourth goal with 15 minutes remaining.
A Dafydd Simon free kick from just inside the Boat half caused mayhem for Bremner in goal. He flapped at the ball and it passed through his hands and into the net. The game was effectively over.
With the 90 minutes almost gone, sub Craig McLeod found himself free on the halfway line and he latched on to a perfectly weighted through ball from Robertson to chip over the outrushing Bremner’s legs.
The final score somewhat flatters Thistle as the Ospreys matched them well for much of the game but did not have the same killer instinct in front of goal.
However Aviemore took their chances and deservedly raised the 89 year old trophy.
