2.30pm 4 May 2013
Highland Amateur Cup, First Round
Maryburgh 3 Gairloch Aultbea United 2 aet (att 40)
The Highland Amateur Cup, covering a vast area from Inverness northwards and including Orkney, Skye and the Western Isles, is among my favourite competitions. Leagues in this part of Scotland play through the summer, so May is early season and today was first round day.
Not long ago both these clubs were rivals in the Ross-shire Amateur League, but GA United (as the visitors are usually known), are isolated by geography whichever league they play in, and have since elected to switch to the Skye and Lochalsh League.
As the 2013 season approached Maryburgh were, along with Contin and Avoch, the Ross-shire Amateur League's only remaining clubs, so the league has taken a year out while all three have now joined the Sutherland Amateur League, Whether the Ross-shire League will ever re-appear remains to be seen.
Over the years I've seen some fantastic Highland Amateur Cup games, a 1998 quarter final - Cromarty 5 Thurso Academicals 6 - remains one of the best games I've ever seen. This may not have reached those heights, but it was still a cracking cup tie between two well-matches sides.
The visitors scored the only goal of the first half, but Maryburgh were level soon into the second. A penalty each, GA scoring first, set up extra time. Maryburgh played the additional 30 minutes a man short following a correct red card for a dangerous tackle, yet they looked the better side in extra time and deserved their late winner.
Maryburgh's ground is basic but pleasant. The pitch runs parallel to Seaforth Place, and a grass bank on the road side gives an elevated view with park benches strategically sited along the top of the bank.
Highland Amateur Cup, First Round
Maryburgh 3 Gairloch Aultbea United 2 aet (att 40)
The Highland Amateur Cup, covering a vast area from Inverness northwards and including Orkney, Skye and the Western Isles, is among my favourite competitions. Leagues in this part of Scotland play through the summer, so May is early season and today was first round day.
Not long ago both these clubs were rivals in the Ross-shire Amateur League, but GA United (as the visitors are usually known), are isolated by geography whichever league they play in, and have since elected to switch to the Skye and Lochalsh League.
As the 2013 season approached Maryburgh were, along with Contin and Avoch, the Ross-shire Amateur League's only remaining clubs, so the league has taken a year out while all three have now joined the Sutherland Amateur League, Whether the Ross-shire League will ever re-appear remains to be seen.
Over the years I've seen some fantastic Highland Amateur Cup games, a 1998 quarter final - Cromarty 5 Thurso Academicals 6 - remains one of the best games I've ever seen. This may not have reached those heights, but it was still a cracking cup tie between two well-matches sides.
The visitors scored the only goal of the first half, but Maryburgh were level soon into the second. A penalty each, GA scoring first, set up extra time. Maryburgh played the additional 30 minutes a man short following a correct red card for a dangerous tackle, yet they looked the better side in extra time and deserved their late winner.
Maryburgh's ground is basic but pleasant. The pitch runs parallel to Seaforth Place, and a grass bank on the road side gives an elevated view with park benches strategically sited along the top of the bank.
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