Sport / Shetland under-12s enjoy double county success over Orkney
THE SHETLAND 2013 football development squad travelled to Kirkwall at the weekend for games against their Orkney counterparts.
The ‘inter-county’ matches took place on Saturday morning at the Pickaquoy Centre in Kirkwall, with Shetland ‘whites’ playing first.
The away team got off to a positive start with a goal from the energetic Patrick Johnston.
The lead was doubled soon after when Shetland’s player of the match, Robbie Lamming, hit a spectacular left foot shot that curled into the top corner.
The game was very well balanced as a determined Orkney struck back for 2-1, only for the whites to extend their lead through Johnston again.
However Orkney scored next to reduce the deficit back to one goal and, as an exciting second half progressed, Shetland scored a decisive fourth through Jack Wilson.
That goal turned out to be the winner, with Orkney narrowing the score to 4-3 late in the game.
In the second match, the ‘blues’ played Orkney’s ‘reds’ and it was Orkney who took the lead first.
However, Magnie Williamson equalised and then Dylan Tulloch edged Shetland into the lead with a fierce left-foot volley that beat the goalkeeper at the near post.
Williamson, Shetland’s player of the match, scored his second to give some temporary breathing space for the blues.
But this was a keenly fought encounter and Orkney scored to keep the pressure on Shetland, the score now 3-2 to the blues.
Shetland introduced Jeemie Duncan at half-time and he made an immediate impact with the fourth goal.
However again Orkney fought back, this time through a penalty which was awarded for hand ball.
The young Shetland team showed great maturity to stick to their passing game, and it eventually paid off. Williamson completed his hat-trick with a David Beckham-like free kick to make it 5-3.
And Finn Grant then added the goal of the game, guiding an accurate right-foot shot into the top corner after some impressive build-up play that started from goalkeeper Blair Patterson.
The afternoon followed a league format with both Shetland teams playing Orkney as well as Tain.
Unfortunately the Caithness side could not complete their fixtures as they had to leave to catch a ferry in the afternoon.
So Orkney’s reds and Shetland’s blues shared the ‘league’ cup after finishing equal on points.
Reflecting on a very enjoyable trip, Shetland’s coaching team thanked the Orkney coaches and volunteers who hosted such a well-organised event, NorthLink Ferries for travel sponsorship and the team’s main sponsor, Antares LK419, for their ongoing support.
The home leg of the under-12s inter-county takes place on Friday 29 August at Clickimin, with the first match starting at 11am.
Back, from left: Fraser Isbister, Hosea Moar, Ryan Polson, Blair Patterson, Ben Masson, Leighton
Shewan, Calen Bannister, Robbie Lamming, Seth Jamieson, Dylan Tulloch, Joe
Henry, Spencer Flaws, Rhys Goudie
Front: Finn Grant, Jack Wilson, Tyler Heale, Ryan Peterson, Jeemie Duncan, Patrick
Johnston, Mackie Thompson, Leo Johnston, Žan Gault, Heath Patterson, Magnie
Williamson.
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