Kings appear set to take league crown
THE Strathspey and Badenoch Welfare Football Association returned to league business last week as the season entered its final five games.
Cup football has dominated the competition for the past three weeks, and Kingussie continued their winning ways with another emphatic win, and look certs to take the title this season.
Aviemore Thistle 5, Tomatin United 1
Tomatin United made the short trip south to Carrbridge to face Aviemore Thistle. The last outing in the league between the sides was a close-run affair, with Aviemore just edging it 3-2 thanks to a Cammy Gaff hat-trick.
This game was to be won in similar circumstances, with the same player netting another trio.
The match started off fairly evenly, with both teams trying to find their way, but it was the visitors who took the lead on the half-hour, when a good pass from Hector Brydon sent Liam Tracey free on the left wing.
His perfect cross was met by the head of Murray Fraser at the back post.
This lead was short-lived, however, and Aviemore equalised within five minutes when Gaff got the break of the ball and sped into the box before finishing low past Stuart to open his account.
The Jags took the lead as half-time approached, and it was Gaff again who latched onto a through ball and tucked it away easily into the corner of the net.
Into the second half, and with Tomatin still asleep at the back, Gaff scored by far the best goal of the night. He waltzed past two defenders before turning and unleashing a tremendous shot from the edge of the box which the helpless Garry Stuart could only watch rocket past him into the net.
To be fair, even Buffon or Casillas would have struggled to stop it, and it was a rather special way to wrap up a well-deserved hat-trick.
Tomatin tried their best, and kept battling away with Fraser Manson in the midfield easily being their best man on the night.
They might have pulled a goal back when a good strike from triallist Richard Smith looked netbound, but a great save at point-blank range by Aviemore’s Wojchec was to deny him.
It was Aviemore, though, who would finish the stronger of the two teams, and they were to add two more goals to their tally before the end through Darren MacConnell and Kieron Partridge.
The game was played in a good manner, and special mention goes to match referee John Swinden, who allowed the play to flow while taking the time for a quiet word with the players where needed.
He controlled the game in the ‘old school’ fashion, which was well appreciated by both teams.
Strathspey Thistle 6, Cromdale 1
With both sides sharing the same Cromdale venue, this fixture has become something of a local derby. The past two meetings of the clubs have seen Strathspey triumph by narrow margins on both occasions, but this game would see the Jags win once again, but with room to spare.
Cromdale suffered from a lack of numbers, forcing 39-year-old manager Gavin Taylor to dust down his boots and take a place on the subs’ bench.
By contrast, Strathspey’s young line-up saw its average age drop even further, with the introduction of two 14-year-olds, Sam Morrison and Joshua Race.
And it was Race who shone brightest on the night with a superb double.
Thistle’s other goals came courtesy of Sam Munro, Kieran Flammond, James McShane and Andrew McPhee. Ali Mackie got Cromdale’s consolation strike.
Kingussie 8, Aviemore RBL 0
RBL were back at full strength this week and clearly brimming with a new-found confidence.
Aided by a bit of pre-match banter flowing between both sets of players, a keenly fought contest looked on the cards.
Sadly for the Legion, however, it was to end up a fairly one-sided event.
Kings took the lead in somewhat controversial circumstances. Steve Macdonald returned an over-hit corner which O’Brien dutifully nodded home. The Legion were certain the ball had gone out for a throw-in before Macdonald got to it, but referee David Osbourne disagreed, and the goal stood.
The hosts could have doubled their advantage shortly later when Cameron Webster appeared to have been felled in the box by RBL’s Dane MacPherson, but no spot kick was awarded.
This seemed to fire up Kingussie, and Antonio Vastano made it 2-0 when he found space in the box to fire home across the keeper.
Clearly stunned, RBL conceded a third when Ross Dudgeon evaded some close attention to send a defence-splitting ball through to Webster, who rounded the keeper to find an empty net.
It was soon 4-0 as Sam Cairns broke quickly down the right and sent across a tremendous ball for Kevin Laidlaw to bring under control and slide home.
Cameron Webster completed the half’s scoring when his pace outfoxed the Legion’s defence and saw him come out on top of a 1-on-1 with the keeper to finish well.
Into the second half, and Kings showed no sign of resting on their five-goal cushion. And to emphasise the point, Antonia Vastano made it 6-0 with a near carbon copy of his first goal.
The visitors were struggling to contain Kingussie, and this task was made all the harder when they were reduced to 10 men for a ‘professional foul’.
Kings could smell a big score now, and Vastano completed his hat-trick with a quick strike from outside the box into the far corner.
Cameron Webster then grabbed his own hat-trick when he picked up a ball from the wing and powered it high into the roof of the net from close range.
RBL were simply no match for the rampant Kingussie side.
They did have a few rare attempts on goal, but Kings kept the lion’s share of possession, quickly getting into their rhythm and creating chances the Legion could not contain
Kingussie can officially retain their title next week at home to Aviemore if theirs and the other results go in their favour.
