Boat of Garten Ospreys and Aviemore Thistle tee up big showdown
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
The title race is set-up nicely for Boat of Garten and Aviemore's huge six-pointer tomorrow evening with both teams winning their latest games.
The Ospreys hold a three point advantage going into the match at Boat of Garten following last Tuesday's fixtures.
David Ritchie & Sons Ltd League Week 9 (7.30pm kick-off): Spey Valley v Cromdale; Kingussie v FC Abernethy; Boat of Garten v Aviemore Thistle.
FC Abernethy 0-6 Boat of Garten Ospreys
This was the proverbial game of two halves every football pundit wishes for, with no goals at all in the opening 45 minutes. Given the Ospreys’ recent scoring frenzy, this had spectators scratching their heads as Abernethy comfortably held their own against the high-flying visitors.
But it was a totally different game following the restart as Boat spread their wings and found their scoring boots again.
Indeed the second half was a mere 5 minutes old when Boat took the lead as Thomas McInnes deftly squeezed the ball inside the front post from a tight angle.
Minutes later it was 2-0 as Harley McFarlane skinned two Nethy defenders before unleashing an unstoppable drive which left the keeper with no chance.
Number three came on the hour mark when a deep corner was swung across the box and Fraser Greenlees rose highest in a forest of heads to nod home.
Things settled down a little following this opening blitz, but for Nethy that peace would soon be shattered as Boat continued their fine scoring form.
Greenlees was involved once again, cutting a delightful ball inside from wide which was collected by McInnes, and he took full advantage of the space he found himself in to run in on goal and power a shot low into the far corner.
Nethy were a spent force by now, and with 10 minutes remaining Boat gave the game a big high-five as Seoras Alliod capitalised on a frantic goalmouth scramble to provide the final touch across the line.
And with the game in its dying seconds, the Ospreys delivered a final blow. Conan Quinn found himself free just outside the box and slotted low into the bottom corner to finish the match off.
This leaves Boat a mere three games away from an historic first title win in 75 years, with this Tuesday’s clash at the ‘Ze Nest’ being a potential decider.
Cromdale 1-5 Aviemore Thistle
Despite events at Nethy Bridge, Aviemore were in no mood to concede anything as they maintained the pressure with another confident win on the road.
Damian Paluga got the Jags off to an early start when Wayne Cathcart did very well to hold the ball up before slipping it through for Damian Paluga to knock past the keeper.
Five minutes later Paluga doubled his tally when he collected another neat through ball, this time provided by Finlay Macdonald, before rounding the keeper and slotting home.
Two minutes later Macdonald went from provider to scorer as some great fighting play from Antonio Burnett allowed Macdonald to knock the ball under the advancing keeper for Thistle’s third.
With just over half an hour gone, Jags keeper Xavio Vastano provided a stunning ball from deep to pick out Wayne Cathcart. He then skipped past two defenders before curling a majestic shot into the top corner.
Thistle clearly ended the first half in confident mood this was job done as the second half was a much slower tempo affair.
It took till midway through the second 45 before the net was called into action again. Aviemore’s Reece Armit was felled inside the are by a clumsy challenge, and David Robertson confidently sent
the ball into the right corner from the spot.
Cromdale refused to lie down though and grabbed a deserved consolation in the last minute of the game when Dan Whitehorn netted to avoid the dreaded granny.
This was another excellent three points for the Jags who have their own eye on the Shield, having not laid hands on it since 2006.
Spey Valley 0-3 Kingussie
Kingussie collected all three points without a single ball being kicked. Spey Valley were unable to muster a full team in order to fulfil the fixture and therefore were forced to forfeit the tie.
A 3-0 Kings win was the outcome.
However Valley are confident this is only a one-off and will be able to honour all three remaining league fixtures.
