Whitedale and Celtic make it to semis of pre-season football competition

Shetland Football Association’s pre-season Highland Fuels Cup competition, played on the artificial pitch at Whalsay, is now under way with two of the quarter-finals having been played. West Side cup specialists Whitedale defeated Scalloway 7-3 while last year’s winners Delting, boosted by the return of long-term injury victims Stuart Hay and Ross Jamieson, went down 2-1 to Celtic.

Highland Fuels Cup

Whitedale 7, Scalloway 3

Scalloway opened the scoring through Gary Burns but Whitedale raced into a 3-1 lead with goals from Kevin Nicolson, Jamie Wilson and Paul Malloy.

Burns scored his second after good set up play from Scott Henderson before Duncan Fraser restored Whitedale’s two goal lead following a corner. The half ended 4-3 after Laurence Pearson curled a fine shot into the top corner for Scalloway.

In the second half the makeshift Scalloway defence conceded goals to John Moncrieff and Stewart Donald before Wilson completed the scoring with the last kick of the ball.

Celtic 3, Delting 2

Delting and Celtic took to the pitch in pouring rain and a challenging breeze that was going to prove difficult for both keepers and defences. Right from the off, it was obvious this was going to be a close and well-contested game, with challenges flying in all over the pitch.

Celtic were first to make the breakthrough when a ball down the left found James Aitken and he looped an attempt over the head of the helpless Danny Reid.

Celtic were looking dangerous, particularly down the wings, and stretched their lead when Lowrie Simpson pounced to score.

The second goal seemed to kick Delting into life and with the returning Ross Jamieson and Stuart Hay linking well, they got themselves back into the game through a long range thunderbolt from Leighton Flaws just before half time.

The second half started as the first had finished with Delting finding plenty of possession in the midfield. However, it was Celtic who added to the lead when excellent work down the right resulted in Robert Smith finding the net with a beautiful shot.

Delting did manage to pull back a goal towards the end after a Ross Jamieson volley fell to his brother Ian, who made no mistake from close range.

Fixtures

Whitedale now play the winner of the quarter-final tie between Whalsay and Ness while Celtic will play the winners of the tie between Thistle and Spurs. All dates and venues for the games in the Highland Fuels Cup are available at www.leaguewebsite.co.uk/shetlandfa