Debut victory for Rebels against Banks
The story of the week in the Northwards Shetland Works League was Wastside Rebels’ debut win over Banks to claim their first victory in many a year. Elsewhere, Wrultizers missed the chance to go top when they were narrowly defeated by local rivals Mossbank, while Malakoff overcame Banks in the DITT Cup on a horrendous wet and windy night, conditions where normal humans would be safely tucked up at home.
DITT Cup (preliminary round)
Banks 2, Malakoff 7
Malakoff took to Seafield on Wednesday night to face their long-term foes Banks in the first round of the cup. The game was given the go ahead despite a storm blowing so badly that had the fixture been on the other side of the Atlantic the Americans would have named the hurricane and sent out severe weather warnings.
However, being works league both teams braved the elements. Even the lack of a referee could not hinder the fixture when thankfully Mark Goodhand stepped in to fill the void after a distress call from the boatbuilders.
Banks won the toss and opted to play with the wind at their backs for the first half but after some scrappy play that saw both teams trying to adapt it was Malakoff who struck first. After some nice football James Manson found time and space in the box and was clinical, sliding the ball past the banks keeper.
The shipchandlers doubled their advantage moments after when more pressure from Malakoff saw Steven Leckie go through one-on-one and finish superbly over Polson in between the Banks sticks.
At this point it looked as if Banks might crumble as in games past but to their credit they began to take the game to the Malakoff back four and were rewarded when Darren Boxwell gained space in the box and struck the ball to the left of Derek Duncan, giving the keeper little chance.
Banks continued to press with a series of corners and drew level when Duncan’s punched clearance made it as far as the penalty spot where the Banks offensive were queuing up and smashed the ball in to the empty net.
With half time looming Malakoff sprung into action and winger Michael Gardner played in predator Derek Mora who made it 3-2.
In the second half with the huge wind advantage it was always going to be difficult for the bankers. Malakoff immediately took control and extended their lead whine a fine James Manson corner found the head of Mora for his second.
A great moment in the shipyard followed when Johnny Hawick, who had been sidelined for a year and a half with a career threatening knee injury, scored a 25-yard drive on his competitive return.
Goals were inevitable now and the sixth came after fine work and a cracking finish from Ross Herculson whose 18-yard shot cannoned off of the post and nestled in the opposite corner.
The game finished in fantastic fashion with Steven Leckie bettering his first half effort with another perfectly-weighted lob over Polson after bursting clear.
At this point the Bankers requested Goodhand to blow the final whistle 20 minutes early to complete the game, as the match was past them and with Malakoff now seemingly scoring for fun there was never going to be any way back into the game.
Northwards Shetland Works League
Wastside Rebels 4, Banks 0
When Da Rebels won their last competitive game Margaret Thatcher was Prime Minister, but an ever-improving side were hopeful of securing their first three points of the season on a perfect day in Aith.
Banks started strongly with some early pressure but after some encouragement/abuse from the loud and boisterous Rebels support they managed to waken up and after seven minutes Guy Tindall set up Geordie Jamieson who rifled home to scenes of jubilation on and off the pitch.
The Rebels kept pressing and in 25 minutes an excellent move up the right involving Jamieson and Lee Macleod resulted in Lewis Duncan flashing a shot just wide. Soon after Banks forward Stan Semple had a great chance to level things but his shot ended up in the side netting.
The Rebels then should have doubled the lead with a through ball by Duncan releasing Neil Tindall who cracked his shot crack off the bar. Shortly after Jamieson rose at the back post to nod in a Rebels free kick for his second of the match.
The Banks started the second half positively and had a great chance cleared off the line by Duncan Anderson.
The Banks then lost Ronnie Calderwood through injury,which led to the Rebels dominating in midfield and in 67 minutes Duncan played in Neil Tindall who coolly lobbed the keeper for number three.
With the home side’s confidence growing Jamieson completed his hat trick with a shot just inside the 18 yard box.
The Rebels, keen to secure their perfect disciplinary record, were forced to substitute Ryan Tulloch after his fourth foul throw.
The last chance fell to the Banks in the 85th minute but they were denied by a last-ditch challenge by the hard tackling Anderson. As the final whistle blew the scenes of jubilation were akin to the last Wastside parish cup victory on the pitch.
Man of the match was hat trick man Geordie Jamieson but Lewis Duncan, the Tindall brothers and Magni Einarsson also deserve praise. Best for Banks were Ronnie Calderwood and Aaron Priest.
West Linga Rebels 1, Malakoff 10
The boatbuilders travelled to Whalsay on a fine afternoon for football last Sunday to face local side Wast Linga Ramblers.
The boys from the shipyard were keen to stamp out any complacency from the start and entered into the tie cautiously. They went one up within five minutes when co-manager Steven Leckie’s quick feet allowed him to release Derek Mora who continued his fine run of form with a neat finish.
It quickly became two when another fine James Manson corner was well tracked by Johnny Hawick who ghosted in at the back post and volleyed the ball into the net.
The provider turned scorer for the third when Paul Johnson’s well weighted through ball found Manson whose strike across the keeper went in via the left post.
Mikey Gardner decided to try this after watching Manson’s goal and his pacey run put him through one-on-one and he finished identically to the previous goal.
The fifth had a bit of good fortune about it when Alan Baptie found time and space on the right and his mis-placed cross nestled in the top left hand corner. The unused Malakoff keeper Derek Duncan decided to get in on the act and his massive clearance found Mikey Gardner again who finished superbly on the half volley for 6-0 at half time.
This scoreline somewhat flattered the boatbuilders as the Ramblers did have a couple of goal-line scrambles to deny them an opening goal.
In the second half Linga nearly pulled a goal back when some fine play from Lawrence Tulloch in the centre of midfield put their striker clean through. Richie Gardner’s quick thinking and pace, however, prevented keeper Derek Duncan from being tested.
Against the run of play it was Malakoff who extended the lead to seven when Mikey Gardner’s throw found Leckie who in turn found Manson who smashed the ball high into the net for his second.
The Ramblers, to their credit, kept pushing and scored a well-deserved consolation when an expertly taken free-kick from midfielder Gary Leask found the top right corner.
That was to be all the Ramblers took from the game as Malakoff continued to press and the eighth soon came when Mikey Gardner’s fantastic turn allowed him space to shoot from 18 yards for a well-deserved hat trick.
James Manson completed his own hat-trick when Leckie again picked him out and similar to his second he smashed the ball high into the net.
The scoring was completed with a goal to make Michael Essien proud when Johnny Hawick’s left-foot volley from just inside the box found the top corner.
Wrultizers 2, Mossbank 3
The highly anticipated local derby between Mossbank and Wrultizers proved to be no let-down to the pre-match hype.
After a cagey 20 minutes the game sprung into life with Tizers putting sustained pressure on the Mossbank back four. The pressure paid off when Duane Nicholson make a driving run into the box only to be taken down by McDonald. David McShane stepped up and cooly slotted home.
Rather than letting their heads go down Mossbank hit back when Dountoun found himself one on one and cooly obliged placing the ball past the keeper.
The second half was largely dull for 30 minutes with very little action happening. Both defences proved hard to break down with Alan Smith having an excellent game and the back two of Giblin and MacGregor proved classy as usual. Mossbank kicked into gear and after a sustained amount of pressure and six successive corners the went ahead. Goal hero Hutchison proved his class with a superb f inish at the back post after the ball being missed by everyone.
The lead didn’t last long, however, with Duane Nicholson again proving a thorn in Mossbank’s flesh, slotting past the diving Owers.
A desperate attempt to grab a goal saw Mossbank defender Dave Anderson shoved up front and he proved his versatility, giving Tizers a real handful at the back.
But it was that man Hutchison who proved the difference. After some neat passing in the midfield, Sneddon with a delicate chip found Hutchison in acres of space in the box and he showed his class with another top-drawer finish.
Best for Tizers was James Manson, Duane Nicholson and an excellent Alan Smith. Mossbank deserve praise for a great team performance and an easy on the eye football which will please many fans and spectators.
Fixtures (Kick offs 6pm weekend, 6.30pm midweek, unless otherwise stated)
Tomorrow – Northwards Shetland Works League: West Linga Ramblers v Burra at Whalsay, 3.30pm; Wastside Rebels v Services at Aith, 5pm; Wrultizers v Chernobyl at Gilbertson Park.
Sunday – Northwards Shetland Works League: Malakoff v Lerwick PL at Clickimin South; Banks v Mossbank at Seafield .
Tuesday – Northwards Shetland Works League: Wrultizers v West Linga Ramblers at Clickimin South.
Wednesday – Northwards Shetland Works League: Lerwick PL v Mossbank at Seafield; Burra v Malakoff at Burra.
