Chernobyl keep pressure on Services with big win
THE NORTHWARDS Shetland Works League was back with a bang last weekend, as a thrilling match saw the young Mossbank side defeat bookies’ favourites for the title Captain Flints Cosmos 3-2. The result is bound to send ripples through the works league and alert the chasing pack.
Leading the chasing pack, and now tied at the top of the table, are a marauding Emergency Services side who are currently disposing of everything in their path. West Linga were the latest victims, on the wrong end of a 9-1 thrashing.
Elsewhere Chernobyl go from strength to strength, with a impressive win in the Association Cup over West Linga and another over Malakoff in the league.
A special mention to Banks who made it to the Association Cup semi final, albeit by default after Sandwick failed to produce a team for their quarter final.
This weekend sees some interesting clashes, with Cosmos keen to bounce back against Malakoff and Wrultizers and Services clashing once more. Elsewhere the resurgent upstarts Mossbank take on Banks.
Association Cup (quarter final)
Chernobyl 7, West Linga 1
In an open cup tie it was Chernobyl who threatened first with Sammy Sjoberg passing up two glorious early chances to maintain his recent form. Magnus Malcolmson proved more clinical on 10 minutes, running on to a Robert Wright through pass to slot the ball across the helpless keeper. Minutes later a huge goalkick from Will Arthur released Robbie Goudie, who steadied himself before curling the ball into the top far corner.
With the hoops midfield dominating possession a third soon followed when Malcolmson rose salmon-like to head home a Tommy Walterson cross from less than two yards. Linga conceded another on the stroke of half time when a clearly ecstatic Andy Law stole in at the near post to head home a driven Magnus Malcolmson corner.
Chernobyl started the second period as they had finished the first with Tommy Walterson driving through the middle of the park to unleash a rasping 30 yarder which cannoned off the bar. Walterson found himself in a similar position moments later but this time his drive flew arrow-like into the roof of the net.
The goal sparked the boys from the Bonnie Isle into life and only a combination of keeper Will Arthur and full back Peter Smith denied them a deserved goal. Linga however were not to be denied and Kenneth Neil soon fired home following good work from Neil Eunson.
Chernobyl quickly regained control as Walterson dribbled across the area before rounding the prostrate keeper to score. Andy Law then set up Robbie Goudie for a magnificent seventh to complete the scoring. Although West Linga prevented both Walterson and Goudie from completing their hat-tricks their only real consolation was the fact that they had the best looking supporters.
Northwards Works League
Malakoff 1, Chernobyl 6
At a wind battered Gilbertson Park Malakoff took the game to their opponents only for Chernobyl to score with their first real attack of the match. Tommy Walterson controlled an Adam Swift corner on the edge of the area and although keeper Derek Duncan got down to his low drive Robbie Goudie reacted quickest to fire home the rebound.
The goal took the wind out of the boatbuilders’ sails and Chernobyl duly doubled their advantage midway through the half. Robert Wright released Walterson down the right and his low cross was clipped home by the rather fortunate Goudie.
Although dominating play the hoops were unable to add to their lead and Malakoff earned a lifeline seconds from the interval. A sweetly struck 20-yard free kick from James Manson gave the keeper no chance.
Despite an inspirational team talk any hopes of a second half comeback were effectively ended within a minute of the restart. Ian Smith started a flowing move which ended when Andy Law dummied a Sammy Sjoberg cross allowing Goudie to complete his hat-trick. Goudie added two more before the hour mark, both direct from corners, only to be harshly substituted for his efforts.
With the result no longer in doubt the hoops pressed forward in an apparent competition to see who could have the worst miss. The winner was Tommy Walterson, who somehow managed to clear the roof of the nurses’ home from inside the six yard box.
Chernobyl continued to attack, completing the scoring in the final minute. A long clearance from keeper George Abernathy released Sammy Sjoberg who despite giving the appearance of a man running in treacle reached the ball to score with what most golfers refer to as a shank.
Mossbank 3, Cosmos 2
Mossbank showed great bouncebackability by defeating league leaders CF Cosmos after a run of league defeats. The game started fairly evenly with both teams creating chances. Mossbank got the first goal of the game when John Hutchison cut inside from the right hand side, beating his marker before slotting the ball into the bottom corner with a left foot drive.
One became two after a great through ball by Craig Thomson to John Hutchison, who slid a ball across the box for new boy Sandy Chalmers to slot in his first goal in the famous black and white stripes.
The half finished with the game mostly in Mossbank’s half, as Cosmos started to throw everything at the opposition defence but the back four of Tulloch, Pottinger, McGregor and Richardson stood firm.
Mossbank got the first chance in the second half as Chalmers, who was a constant threat to the Cosmos defence, managed to hold off a defender and unleash a shot destined for the net. However George Mackay in the Cosmos goal produced an outstanding save.
Cosmos managed to pull a goal back in controversial style. A corner was swung in and Mossbank managed to clear it. However referee Archie Constable blew the whistle and gave a penalty for apparently dangerous play.
Darren Johnson slotted the ball underneath goalie Ben Fulton to make the score 2-1. Cosmos then equalised with the move of the match as it looked like all Mossbank’s hard work would be for nothing. Cosmos’s move
started from the back. When they got to the edge of the Mossbank box a wonderful through ball was played and Ronnie Calderwood managed to smash the ball high into the roof of the net, leaving Fulton with no chance.
Cosmos almost went ahead when a Thomas Sinclair header was well saved by Fulton. Mossbank then grabbed a deserved winner with Nathan McDonald sliding a ball through the Cosmos backline and John Hutchison running on to the ball and placing the ball into the corner. Mossbank had chances near the end of the game with Darren Coutts crashing the ball off the bar and Thomson also had a guilt edged chance. The final whistle sparked celebrations from Mossbank as they managed to break the undefeated run of Cosmos as well as putting a spanner in the works for their title challenge.
West Linga 1, Emergency Services 9
In a strong victory for Services, Tony Farquhar continued an impressive season with a four-goal haul, Lee Hunter bagged three, and Duncan Leask and Duncan McDougall got one apiece. West Linga’s response came from the penalty spot.
