Villa and Rothes to meet in final
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BISHOPMILL Villa and Rothes A will meet in the final of Moray welfare football's Tewnion Memorial Trophy.
The two clubs, who are battling each other for the Premier Division title, are set to go head-to-head for the first silverware of the season on Friday, August 19.
The semi-finals saw Bishopmill romp to a 6-0 win over Tomintoul, while Rothes A had to battle hard for their 4-3 success against Division 1 Cullen.
Three penalty kicks and a bizarre opening goal were the highlights of an exciting tie at Cullen, where the home side came from behind on three occasions before succumbing to a late Rothes spot award.
Those who remember Dion Dublin’s cheeky 1997 goal for Coventry when he sneaked up from behind the Nottingham Forest goalkeeper and robbed him of the ball will be able to picture Roy Smillie’s audacious opener for at Logie Park last week.
Cullen keeper David Mair received the ball at his feet but failed to notice Smillie standing behind him, and was stunned when the Rothes player stole it off him and tapped into an empty net.
A spectacular 25 yard curler from Scott Mair made it 1-1, but Andrew MacKinnon regained the lead for the Speysiders from the spot after he had been fouled by Rob Hendry.
Cullen too were awarded a spot kick and Scott Mair slotted it home, only for Andrew Chalmers to put Rothes back into the lead just before half time with a deflected cross.
For the third time in the game Cullen got themselves back on terms, Neil Mair showing good composure to net a fine finish.
But another penalty came the Speysiders’ way in the closing minutes, with Cullen defender Hendry once more the unlucky offender. This time substitute Luke Gordon did the needful from the spot to send Rothes into the final.
There they will play Bishopmill, who had too much firepower for fellow Premier side Tomintoul at Pinefield.
‘Toul missed a couple of early chances and were soon on the back foot when Villa debut boy Lorne McPherson took down Gary Innes’ pass beautifully and fired home the opening goal.
Marc Williams added a second after Gary Burr had hit the post, and Burr himself added Bishopmill’s third of the night from McPherson’s pass.
In the second half Williams added his own second and Burr also doubled up from Doug Ainsworth’s long throw. Alex McGregor completed Bishopmill’s passage into the final with a 20 yard stunner in the dying minutes.
For a full Moray welfare football round-up, see Friday's Northern Scot.
