Ian Napier Memorial Shield Final at Hillhead on Sunday 21st November
Woodside lifted the Ian Napier Memorial Shield after a closely contested final against Beacon Rangers at Hillhead on Sunday.
Beacon came close to opening the scoring on eight minutes when a fierce drive from Stinson was parried by MacDonald and Robb’s follow-up header went narrowly over. Woodside began to exert some pressure at the other end and they broke the deadlock on nineteen minutes when a clever reverse pass from Gray released Jack and he calmly rounded keeper Susmarski before rolling the ball into the empty net.
Beacon had an opportunity to get back on terms six minutes before the interval when Robb latched on to a perfectly weighted pass from Bowman but his well struck shot was turned behind by MacDonald. However, the equaliser was only delayed by a matter of seconds as the resultant corner was curled to the back post by Stinson and headed home by Bowman.
There was still time for Woodside to try to restore their advantage before the break but Susmarski made a brave block at the feet of Jack to keep the scores level. Unfortunately the keeper was injured in the collision and had to be replaced at the interval.
Half-time: 1 – 1
Beacon made a good start to the second half and they went in front within two minutes of the restart when Robb linked up with MacKay who fired the ball beyond MacDonald from close range. Beacon could have increased their lead just two minutes later when Robb centred from the right and Linton came within inches of applying a finishing touch as he slid in at the back post.
Replacement keeper Munro came to Beacon’s rescue on the hour mark when he denied Thomson at point blank range after good build-up play involving Main and Simpson but Woodside did succeed in levelling the scores midway through the second period when Gray rose to meet a pinpoint cross from Simpson and steered a header into the bottom corner. Woodside went in search of a winning goal and Gray saw a header clip the crossbar before being denied minutes later by a superb last-ditch challenge from Burnett.
The match then appeared to be heading for extra-time but it was Woodside who grabbed the lead with three minutes left on the clock when Simpson once again supplied an inviting cross from the right and Gray doubled his tally for the afternoon with a well-directed header beyond the outstretched hand of Munro.
Beacon pushed forward in search of a late equaliser but it was Woodside who added a fourth goal in stoppage time when an incisive pass from Strachan found Jack who curled the ball into the top corner to seal the victory.
Full Time: 4 – 2
Woodside: G. MacDonald, C. Buchan, D. Gibb, S. Jack, B. Gray, M. McGunnigle, A. Sutherland, L. Marr, J. Simpson, P. Main, B. Thomson. Subs: S. Taylor, A. Petrie, S. Strachan, N. McGunnigle, T. Davie.
Beacon Rangers: M. Susmarski, A. Harvey, A. Burnett, R. Smart, G. Cheyne, K. Taylor, J. MacKay, P. Bowman, C. Stinson, R. Robb, R. Linton. Subs: S. Norrie, S. McCann, C. Buchan, N. Munro, M. Smith.
Referee: I. Burrows
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