Boat of Garten Ospreys claim last silverware of welfare season
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The Caldwell Cup final at Carrbridge on Friday night produced a thrilling finale to the Strathspey and Badenoch Welfare season.
There was even the added interest of having the CEO of the Scottish Welfare FA, Steve Aitken, in attendance, having travelled all the way from Greenock just to watch the game.
FC Abernethy 2-2 Boat of Garten Ospreys (4-5 on penalties)
The form book had Boat as strong favorites for the cup after doling out a few hefty defeats to FC Abernethy over the season.
However, the Nethy players produced a performance that defied the odds.
The game started off in cagey fashion with neither team managing to establish a foothold in the match.
That was until great pressure from Morgan Anderson and Tom Devereux forced an unfortunate own goal from Boat’s Marcus Sellars to put Nethy in front.
The goal jolted Boat into action and they began to put Abernethy under some intense pressure, which resulted in man of the match, Nethy keeper Calum Guy somehow getting a touch on a shot that looked destined for the top corner.
Boat were not to be denied though and after a great mazy run into the box produced another fine save from Guy to deny Fraser Greenless but the ball ricocheted into the path of Scott Farquhar to equalise with a great low strike from just inside the box.
Boat were now in the ascendency and took the lead right on the stroke of half time.
Seoras Aliod played a neat one-two with Michael Wright before skinning two defenders and blasting home inside the near post.
The FC Abernethy management team were quick to make changes and introduced Ian Wraight and Ty Cobb at half time.
The early part of the second half saw Abernethy dominate and they were unlucky not to equalise when Finlay McBain and Calum MacLennan exchanged a neat one-two, and the resulting cross nearly caught out Boat keeper Benn Bremner who brilliantly tipped it over the bar.
Abernethy were dominating now but Boat came roaring back into attack and only had Nethy keeper Guy to curse for denying them twice in quick succession.
Boat earned a free kick in a dangerous position when Douglas Guy fractionally mistimed a tackle but were unable to capitalise and sent the free kick wide of the left-hand post.
As the game wore on Boat were pushing for the goal to seal the victory but Abernethy continued to look dangerous on the counter with their lightning fast fullbacks.
With the 90 minutes approaching, the Abernethy goal was living a charmed life and had to rely heavily on the holy trinity of Gary McHendry, Rob Stewart and Calum Guy, who were time after time denying a clear cut Boat victory.
As the final minutes ticked away it was end-to-end stuff as Boat pushed for a killer third goal and Abernethy threw everything into attack to try and get on level terms.
A stunning equaliser duly arrived when substitute To Silva burst through on goal and smashed a shot towards the top corner which the Bremner somehow managed to touch onto the post but Ty Cobb was there to nod in the rebound into the empty net.
And so, like both semi-finals before, the game was to be decided with the drama of penalty kicks.
Calum Guy brilliantly saved the first penalty for Nethy however Bremner then saved one.
After the first five kicks for each team it was 4-4 and into the dreaded sudden death.
Boat stuck theirs away coolly but legendary figure Fraser Tulloch missed his kick meaning the Caldwell Cup was heading to Boat of Garten. It was a fantastic effort from both sets of players and a thrilling end to the welfare football season.
