Whalsay and Delting in Highland Fuels final
Whalsay qualified for the final of the Highland Fuels Trophy, the traditional warm-up for the main outdoor Shetland football season, by beating Thistle 4-0 last week. Their opponents will be Delting, who made it through after Yell were unable to complete tonight’s scheduled semi-final. Sunday’s final at Harbison Park, Symbister, will kick off at 6.45pm.
Whalsay 4, Thistle 0 With Thistle missing several first team regulars and Whalsay at almost full strength this was going to be a tough task for the blues and so it proved.
After 10 mins Lawrence Pearson opened the scoring for Whalsay after a fine pass from midfield, running through to chip the keeper. This seemed to give Whalsay more momentum and shortly after Pearson got his second, this time running on to a clearance upfield and smashing the ball past Scott Nicolson in the Thistle goal.
Whalsay should have added to their tally before half time but were denied by first the woodwork when Geordie Irvine headed on to the bar and from the resultant rebound Allister Johnston’s goalbound effort brought an unbelievable save from young Nicolson.
The second half saw Whalsay enjoy more possession but their lead wasn’t extended until the 75th minute when a free kick was flighted in by Magnus Polson for John Montgomery to head home.
Thistle then enjoyed a spell of pressure and almost scored when a Scott Morrison shot was scooped on to the post by the keeper.
Johnston had a great chance to put the islanders four up but contrived to miss a chance that even Scotland’s Chris Iwelumo would have scored from.
The fourth goal did come just before the end with Polson turning provider again. This time his run and cross was met by Johnston who atoned for his previous miss to make the final score 4-0.
Geordie Irvine was booked for Whalsay.
Reserve League The Shetland Football Association’s reserve league kicks off on Wednesday. The association has secured a sponsor in the form of Shetland Chiropractic and the deal will see the league renamed the Shetland Chiropractic Reserve League.
SFA press secretary Brydon Robertson said the deal was a continuation of the association’s drive to provide football for all levels of ability in the adult game throughout the isles.
It would be of benefit to both organisations, Robertson said, with the increased exposure locally for Shetland Chiropractic and the sponsorship money going back into the game locally.
This year will see Unst field a reserve team in the reserve league’s knockout cup, run over the last week of June and first week of July when the Shetland county team is away on island games duty.
Unst will also enter the Bloomfield Cup at the end of July which will be run again in a two group format with the top two teams from each group progressing to the semi finals.
The number of teams in the reserve league will remain the same at eight, with Delting reserves and Whalsay reserves again being favourites to battle it out for the title. Ness United will be looking to improve their third place but will be fighting off strong challenges from the rest of the pack. Last year’s final matches saw Celtic, Ness and Whitedale all in the running for third place, in what was a very even league competition.
Supporters and players will be able to view results and fixture news on the Shetland Football Association website at www.leaguewebsite.co.uk once venues have been assigned to the Lerwick matches the fixture list will be uploaded to the site along with the cup draws for the reserve league.
Fixtures (All kick-offs 6.30pm until further notice) Wednesday“ Shetland Chiropractic Reserve League: Whalsay v Scalloway at Harbison Park; Ness United v Delting at Cunningsburgh; Spurs v Whitedale at Clickimin South; Thistle v Celtic at Seafield.
