REPORT:-
The
ideal way to top off our season would be to complete it with a cup final
victory. The squad met in the Charlotte and travelled out to Waterton park to
face Fintray Thistle in the final of our league cup. The Castle Rovers cup
veteran dynamo Gary Longmuir was gutted when he was forced to pull out of the
side with a calf injury and this was of course a huge blow for the rest of the
boys. All except Potts who was now handed a starting place instead of Gary.
Stuart moved Tony into the middle and played Potts wide left. Ewen and Jase
forming the rest of the midfield quartet. Mark was in goal, Neill, Simmie, Andy
and Cooper in defence with Gary A and Graham in attack. The subs were Stuart, PJ
and Mkie. Gary Longmuir was also listed as a sub, allowing him the chance of a
well deserved medal. Around 110-120 spectators lined the pitch with an equal
amount shouting on each team. It was raining and this made the surface fast on
top of a very hard pitch. We started superbly and took the game to Fintray from
the off. Gary Anderson looked to be on form early on and his touches were
creating openings for us. Potts was another showing up well, and it was him who
got in the first shot in 5 minutes albeit a soft effort after a lay off from
Gary. We were passing the ball about well and a good link between Neill and Jase
saw Fintray scramble the ball clear for a corner. Soon after Potts took a free
kick which came off the deck low and fast, the keeper spilled it but did well to
block the bouncing ball as Graham ran in – Mark got his first touch in 15
minutes when he kicked a back pass upfield. But to this point it was all us.
Gary again laid off to Potts but the ball wouldn’t come down and the shot flew
over. Simmie was winning everything in the air and Cooper was also winning his
fair share of headers cheered on by his mum. Fintray broke through when for once
we were caught a bit flat. A looping shot dipped goal wards and big Mark
produced a crucial save as he seemed to stretch his arm out of the socket to
claw it away for a corner. This was in 30 minutes and we were in front soon
after when Ewen picked upon the edge of the box, moved inside and saw his left
foot shot go past the keeper with the aid of a deflection. Minutes later a great
through ball from Ewen was superbly headed on by Gary. The ball struck the post
but the Ref blew for offside. Graham tried a low shot which the keeper saved
then the keeper showed class when he timed and read a Gary move to perfection
and made a sliding diving save at the strikers feet (HT 1-0) so far so good, but
the work was only half done. A result this half and the cup would be ours in
fairness to Fintray, they came out stronger this half and for a 20-25 minute
spell they had us hemmed in. Gary and Graham hardly getting a sniff of the ball
at this stage. Our defence was holding firm but a heart stopping moment came
when Simmie was too firm with a pass back and Mark had to jugle it past a
forward before releasing Cooper who was doing a good job of making himself
available for these passes. Andy saved us when he blocked one on the line and we
were desperately in need of a spark to get us going again. Potts was the man who
provided it with a great ball wide for Gary he returned it to Potts whose driven
cross was well taken by Graham unfortunately his second touch was crap and once
again Fintrays keeper saved. Gary picked up wide right and his quick thinking
saw him hook in a shot with the keeper off his line. Unlucky as it came off the
bar as the ball bounced around in steamed Potts to blaze it over when he could
have passed it into the net. Tony took a knock as he crunched into a tackle but
as usual he was OK to continue. Andy was left with 2 men as we were pulled about
but did well to break out of defence. Mike was introduced for Graham who picked
up a yellow card for allegedly wasting time as he left the field. We had
weathered the storm and were now back in it but at 1-0 anything could happen,
Jase did well to clean up in our box and found Ewen. A long ball forward booted
clear by Fintray. Gary finally settled it for us with a Dalgleish effort in 88
minutes. He picked up dipped a shoulder and curled a cracker in from the left of
the box. Just as had happened almost 8 years ago to the night (19-05-1992) the
crowd went ape!!!! Stuart came on to take a free kick and that was it (FT 2-0)
Wonderful and deserved result. Fitting that Fintray’s keeper was awarded Man
of the Match as he kept them in it in the first half. Who could have predicted
back in August that we would win a League and Cup double?? It’s been a long
road to the final with our first match of the season being the 1st
Round Tie. A great solid performance tonight, throughout the side. A crucial
save from Mark. Andy, Simmie and Gary superb but Potts produced possibly his
finest game for the club the only thing missing was a goal. And so to rest,
Season 99-2000. Standards have now been set and who knows, if we can get off to
a good start next season what can happen. Everyone will have to work even harder
but for now we can bask in the glory of season 99-2000!!
