Poles apart in opening match
The highlight in works football at the weekend was an amazing 17-goal cup thriller between Services and Burra, the score standing 6-6 at full time and Services hitting five in the extra period to run out 11-6 winners.
It was not a happy debut in the Northwards Shetland Works League for Lerwick PL, a team of Polish migrants, who slumped to a 10-0 defeat against Services. After three weeks of league acttion Services and Chernobyl top the table with three wins and Burra and Wrultizers lead the chasing pack with Banks in fifth spot.
DITT Cup Preliminary Round
Burra 6, Services 11 (after extra time, 6-6 at full time)
A shortage of substitutes for both teams (Burra none, Services two) meant if the game needed extra time it was going to be taxing on all the players’ fitness.
Burra scored first but Services went 3-1 up as the game went end to end. With the score at 5-3 in Services’ favour with minutes left Burra staged the fightback to go 6-5 in front at the end of 90 minutes.
Unfortunately for Burra the referee must have been wearing the watch he wore in the Jarl’s Squad at the Northmavine Up Helly-A’ as he seemed to be enjoying the occasion so much he didn’t want it to end!
In the fifth minute of added time Services scored the equaliser, albeit from an alleged offside position.
So on it went to extra time and credit to Services as they went on to score another five times without reply.
Scores for Services were Ian Brown (3), Martin Murphy (2), Duncan Leask (2), Tony Farquhar, Graham McNally, Duncan MacDougall and Jason Beeston. The Burra goals came from Danny Pirie (3), Shane Groat (2) and Jake Williams.
Northwards Shetland Works League
Services 10, Lerwick PL 0
No match report was received.
Wastside Rebels 0, Wrultizers 2
Wrultizers made the trip to sunny Aith eager to play on an Aith pitch which many hadn’t played on since they were at school. Unfortunately their wait was extended as the Rebels goalkeeper injured his thumb in the warm-up and had to be replaced before a ball had even been kicked.
The Wrultizers took control early on, looking dangerous and pressing the Rebels back into their own half, but on the tight pitch it was proving difficult for them to break down a stubborn defence. The Tizers were winning a lot of corners and were as dominating in the air the coalition forces in the Iraq war with Aiden Bennett heading into the side netting and David McShane and Danny Carter both heading narrowly over.
Duane Nicolson was the next Tizer to get in on the act when his header grazed the bar following another corner, unfortunately for Nicolson minutes later the next thing to connect with his forehead was an opposition player’s boot which left him seeing stars and resulted in him taking no more action in the game.
Wrultizers took the lead after good work on the right released Carter. He beat his man and crossed in a delightful ball which McShane instantly killed in the six yard box before wrong footing the defender and calmly rolling the ball into the side netting.
The second half started with the Rebels coming back into the game with George Jamieson imposing himself in midfield. This suited the Tizers attack, however, as they looked dangerous on the break and had two penalty claims knocked back in the space of five minutes. The second resulted in a free kick right on the edge of the box which Andrew Boyd swung into the back post for debutant Lee Carter to head home.
Banks 2, West Linga Ramblers 1
A rare thing in these sad financial times, Banks on the up. The money men were credited their first win of the season by beating close rivals West Linga Ramblers 2-1 in an entertaining match.
As the teams settled Banks came closest to scoring when Jeremy Duncan flashed a drive wide, then Ramblers came close when a George Polson free kick missed by inches.
Banks took the lead when Craig Spowart beat the keeper after being played through by a defence-splitting pass.
In the second half Banks con-tinued to press and were awarded a penalty when Ramblers keeper, Sean Leask, felled Darren Boxwell in the box. The keeper was injured in the tackle and needed treatment before returning to face the spot -kick and a yellow card. Stan Semple duly converted, despite Leask getting a hand to the ball.
Although Banks were now controlling the game, Ramblers were thrown a lifeline when a George Polson cross-cum-shot deceived everyone, including Banks stand-in keeper Neil Sutherland, and nestled in the top corner. This fired the Whalsay men up and Banks had to defend stoutly to hold on for the win.
Burra 2, Mossbank 2
A good first half saw both teams passing the ball well on a slick surface. There were first outings for Burra’s new signings John Scott Drummond and Iain Black, the latter putting the home team one up. Mossbank equalised through Craig Sneddon to see the first period end at one-all.
In the second half Burra went a goal up through Black again. Mossbank were looking for the equaliser but Burra were holding fast until Ian Hannah was sent off for a second yellow which gave the advantage to Mossbank.
Stephen Downton got a deserved equaliser for the visitors but Burra perhaps will feel they had enough chances to win the game. However, the Mossbank keeper had a good game and a draw was a fair result.
Malakoff 1, Chernobyl 3
Sunday saw Chernobyl enter the fray at Seafield with more than a touch of trepidation as a large number of their squad decided that a trip to the folk festival was more to their liking.
Any nerves were soon settled as the hoops took the lead within two minutes of the kick off. Robert Wright headed a David Smith corner goalwards and although keeper Derek Duncan got a hand to the ball Sammy Sjoberg was on hand to power home the rebound.
The boatbuilders soon found themselves two behind when Smith fired a 30-yard free kick over the helpless keeper and into the far corner from wide on the left.
Magnus Malcolmson then sliced open the Malakoff defence, allowing Robbie Goudie to expertly lift the ball over the advancing keeper for the third.
The boatbuilders were now in disarray and only the crossbar prevented Adrian Henry from heading a Billy Forsyth cross into his own net. Chernobyl continued to press but a combination of keeper Duncan and the post kept the half time deficit to three.
The second period again saw Chernobyl dominate but forwards Goudie and Sjoberg were particularly wasteful.
With playmaker James Manson confined to left back Malakoff offered little in attack until the final 10 minutes when a Richie Gardner mis-hit cross was headed off the line by Russell Gair.
Malakoff got their reward in the final minutes when keeper Colin Fraser denied Richie Gardner, only for Derek Moar to rifle the loose ball home from two yards.
Fixtures (Kick-offs 6pm unless otherwise stated) –
Sunday – Northwards Shetland Works League: West Linga Ramblers v Malakoff at Whalsay (3.30pm); Wrultizers v Mossbank at Clickimin; Wastside Rebels v Banks at Aith.
Tuesday – Northwards Shetland Works League: Chernobyl v Lerwick PL at Gilbertson Park.
