3pm Saturday 7 July
Shetland Parish Cup, Semi Final
Unst 7 Westside United 1 (att 70)
It takes two ferry crossings to get from Shetland's capital, Lerwick, to its most northerly island, Unst. Baltasound is a scattered community, but houses Unst's Sports Centre, including a football pitch that is home to the UK's northernmost football club.
Much like the previous night's match at Ness, the strong northerly wind was a major factor, although it didn't diminish the entertainment.
The outcome, and most certainly the scoreline, were not what I expected. Unst are bottom of Shetland's Reserve League - they and neighbours Yell are the only first teams to play in it - yet much of their play, particularly the finishing, was of a much higher standard.
Then again, Westside United don't play league football at all. The Parish Cup, like similar competitions in Orkney and the Western Isles, allows players to play for their 'home' parish, which might not be their usual club.
Unst, cheered on by a crowd that's about one in ten of the island's population, had the wind at their backs for the first half. They took an early lead, and before long scored a second, taking a 2-0 lead into half time.
I expected Westside to come back strongly in the second half, but instead Unst ran away with it. Their speedy strikers struck on the break and scored some quality goals. Westside's consolation, a scant one, was a last minute corner blown in by the wind, by which time they'd already conceded seven.
Although I've now visited the country's most northerly club, it's not the most northerly pitch. I spotted an all weather pitch at what used to be RAF Saxa Vord. The RAF had a team in the Shetland leagues until the base was closed.
Shetland Parish Cup, Semi Final
Unst 7 Westside United 1 (att 70)
It takes two ferry crossings to get from Shetland's capital, Lerwick, to its most northerly island, Unst. Baltasound is a scattered community, but houses Unst's Sports Centre, including a football pitch that is home to the UK's northernmost football club.
Much like the previous night's match at Ness, the strong northerly wind was a major factor, although it didn't diminish the entertainment.
The outcome, and most certainly the scoreline, were not what I expected. Unst are bottom of Shetland's Reserve League - they and neighbours Yell are the only first teams to play in it - yet much of their play, particularly the finishing, was of a much higher standard.
Then again, Westside United don't play league football at all. The Parish Cup, like similar competitions in Orkney and the Western Isles, allows players to play for their 'home' parish, which might not be their usual club.
Unst, cheered on by a crowd that's about one in ten of the island's population, had the wind at their backs for the first half. They took an early lead, and before long scored a second, taking a 2-0 lead into half time.
I expected Westside to come back strongly in the second half, but instead Unst ran away with it. Their speedy strikers struck on the break and scored some quality goals. Westside's consolation, a scant one, was a last minute corner blown in by the wind, by which time they'd already conceded seven.
Although I've now visited the country's most northerly club, it's not the most northerly pitch. I spotted an all weather pitch at what used to be RAF Saxa Vord. The RAF had a team in the Shetland leagues until the base was closed.
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