West Linga win in ‘classic’ game

Only three games were played in the Northwards Shetland Works League due to two matches being rescheduled because of Parish Cup ties.

West Linga Ramblers emerged from the Westside Story with a very close 5-4 victory over Westside Rebels, in a classic game. Services kept their 100 per cent league record intact, but had to come from two down to beat a very good Banks team, and Wrultizers moved up to fourth spot with a win over Malakoff.

In the DITT Cup semi-finals Mossbank edged past Wrultizers by the odd goal while Services beat Malakoff to earn a final spot against the young northerners.

DITT Cup (semi-final)

Mossbank 3, Wrultizers 2

An under strength Mossbank team met cup-holders Wrultizers in a highly entertaining encounter with the teams boasting contrasting styles. Wrultizers opted for the route one option to Danny Carter while Mossbank opted to play on the break against the slow Tizers rearguard, and with several key players missing young prospect Martyn Neeson surprisingly started as striker.

Tizers started by pressing the Mossbank deep defence back and threatened them with their aerial dominance from set pieces and direct passing. Danny Carter and David McShane both went close for Tizers with headers while Dave Anderson should have scored for Mossbank, putting his header agonisingly wide.

Despite the Tizers possession advantage they had failed to test Mossbank’s Michael Owers in goals once in the first half. Instead, Mossbank’s counter attacking football worked to perfection and John Hutchison latched onto a beautiful pass from Craig Sneddon to lob the oncoming Liam Doull and put Mossbank ahead just before the break.

Mossbank introduced Craig Thom­son to the attack replacing the hard-working Neeson and the half started at a frantic pace, the game swinging from end to end with both midfields working hard to keep their teams in the game.

Tizers got back into the game with a scramble in the box saw Mark Smith wrong-foot Michael Owers and slot the ball past the routed keeper.

A changing point in the game saw Hutchison go up front and player-manager Nicky Owers com­ing on into centre midfield role for the excellent Stephen McLaren. A Tizers free kick was quickly scrambled away from the im­pressive Cranie to Anderson who launched a 70-yard punt to land right in front of Hutchison who breezed through the Tizers defence and smashed the ball in the roof of the net from 20 yards.

With 15 minutes left Mossbank became much more defensive and again played on the counter which worked wonders again as Hutchison scored a similar goal to his second and grabbed his second hat trick and 12th of the season.

With seconds left substitute Lee Carter scored to grab a late consolation for Tizers. The final seconds were agonising for Moss­bank but they held on for a deserved victory.

Best for Tizers were the impressive Mark Smith and Andrew Boyd. Best for Mossbank were the partnership pairing of Steven Giblin and Ben Cranie, Nathan McDonald in midfield and the hat trick hero John Hutchison.

Malakoff 0, Services 3

No report was received.

Northwards Shetland Works League

Banks 3, Services 6

A fine night and an immaculate Gilbertson Park was the scene for Banks to take on unbeaten Services. However, Banks had not read the script and sprinted from the traps to take the game to their opponents.

After some good passages of play Banks deservedly took the lead when Jeremy Duncan played in Darren Boxwell, who coolly slotted the ball in to the corner.

Banks doubled the lead when Boxwell scored his second goal and then almost went three up when a Duncan 35-yard thunderbolt was tipped past by Services keeper Keith Leslie.

At this stage Banks were in total control and enjoying the game. A couple of injuries saw first Banks left back Marc Henry limp off then Services’ Graham McNally unable to continue after a bad head clash with Banks keeper Richard Polson.

Against the run of play Services pulled a goal back when Martin Murphy scored, then they levelled the game from a Tony Farquhar penalty after Banks keeper Polson was adjudged to have fouled a Services striker. Half-time arrived with Services lucky to still be in the game.

Services took the lead early in the second half with Murphy scoring his second, and then Duncan limped off from the cursed left back position. Banks refused to buckle, though, and regained parity when Ryan Mustard accurately lobbed Leslie.

At this point it was anyone’s game with some good football being played by both sides. Services regained the upper hand when Murphy converted for his hat trick, but Banks continued to push forward, desperate for an equaliser.

Banks tired towards the end and Services scored two late goals from Scott Uren and Ian Brown to make it a very flattering 6-3 final score.

West Linga Ramblers 5, Westside Rebels 4

There was nothing to choose between the sides until Ramblers’ George William Polson dribbled the ball into the penalty area where he was judged to have been fouled. Gary Leas neatly slipped the penalty past the keeper.

Ramblers soon doubled their lead with a well-executed free kick, Polson floating the ball towards the back post where a well-timed run from Brian Hutchison allowed him to firmly head home.

The Rebels kept their heads up and continued to challenge for every ball, which paid off in the 31st minute. A well-weighted ball was passed between the Ramblers defence and Jordan Leask timed his run precisely, neatly stroking the ball to the left of the keeper.

With only a 2-1 lead the Ram­blers couldn’t relax, and it took an individual piece of skill for their third goal. Kenneth Reid received the ball on the right wing and went round three Rebels players, before sweetly stroking the ball past the keeper.

With three minutes of the half left Rebels’ Guy Tindall hit a firm shot which struck the crossbar. Ramblers keeper Sean Leask was only able to parry the ball into the path of Neil Tindall, who reacted quickly to make it 3-2.

Ramblers pounced just 47 seconds into the second half when Paul Leask passed the ball through to Laurence Tulloch who was just inside the penalty area. On his weaker right foot, he struck the ball into the net.

That gave the Ramblers a two-goal cushion, or so they thought. Rebels kept their head up and threw everything at the Ramblers goal, and after applying continuous pressure, in the 59 minute got the breakthrough they deserved. A well-struck corner forced Sean Leask parry the ball away from the goal, but Jordan Leask was there to head home his second.

At 4-3 the game was there for the taking, with Leask keen to make an impression against his former club, and that he did by scoring his hat trick in the 86th minute.

In the fourth minute of stoppage time Ramblers managed to take the three points. The ball bounced off Malcolm Leask’s knee to Neil Wishart, who then passed it to Laurence Tulloch. For the second time in the match Tulloch struck the ball with his right foot and scored.

The Ramblers were relieved to hear the final whistle and take the three points, in a game that could have gone either way.

Malakoff 2, Wrultizers 4

Wrultizers took the initiative with Mark Smith, Craig Jarvie and the industrious Michael Manson taking control of midfield and pegging Malakoff back. Despite the Tizers’ dominance it was the boatbuilders who almost took the lead when a thunderbolt effort from Alan Baptie was miraculously tip­ped round the post by keeper Liam Doull..

This close shave seemed to spur on the Tizers and minutes later they took the lead with a quick counter attack which released Danny Carter to finish well.

Malakoff equalised on the 25-minute mark when James Manson curled in a free kick from the edge of the box that left Doull no chance.

Unfortunately for Malakoff their lead didn’t last more than a couple of minutes as a quick throw from Adam Doull released Mark Smith who tore down the wing to send in a low cross which Carter side-footed into the bottom corner with unnerving accuracy.

The second half started with Carter being replaced by the Wrultizers mid-season signing Mike Johnson who instantly looked the part. Wrultizers were passing the ball around well and after some great inter-play Mark Smith threaded the needle with a stunning through ball, which released Carter to emphatically complete his hat trick.

Allan Baptie pulled a goal back for Malakoff with 20 minutes to go with a long range effort but it wasn’t long before the Tizers regained their two-goal advantage. New boy Johnson was creating havoc on the right before playing in Michael Manson who burst from midfield before turning a defender and powering home a shot.

In the final minutes Malakoff almost made for a nail-biting end as Derek Moar dribbled around Doull in the goal only to see Wrultizers’ James Manson clear his shot from the line.

Best for Malakoff on the night were James Manson and Allan Baptie while for the Tizers both of the Carters, Michael Manson and new boy Johnson stole the show.

Fixtures (kick offs 6pm weekend, 6.30pm midweek unless otherwise stated) Tomorrow – Northwards Shetland Works League: Burra v Banks at Burra (Robbie Leask); Westside Rebels v Malakoff at Aith (5pm, Sarah Couper); Wrultizers v Lerwick PL at Clickimin (Mark Goodhand); Chernobyl v Services at Gilbertson (Derrick Bradley); Mossbank v West Linga Ramblers at Seafield (Ivan Sinclair) Tuesday – Association Cup (preliminary round): Mossbank v Wrultizers at Clickimin (Robbie Leask); Services v Chernobyl at Gilbertson Park (Mark Goodhand)
Wednesday – Association Cup (preliminary round): Sandwick v Westside Rebels at Sandwick (Sarah Couper).

NORTHWARDS SHETLAND WORKS LEAGUE