Friday 3 August 2007, 7:00pm
Tomatin Cup 1st Round

TOMATIN UTD 0-8 CARR-BRIDGE

Carr-bridge took a step closer to lifting the second bit of silverware this season with a comprehensive win over a fairly poor Tomatin Utd side.

The game kicked off with the visitors in control from the start, and after only 12 minutes Fraser Gordon opened Carr-bridge's account, slotting home following a goalmouth scramble. Five minutes later it was Marcus Forrest's turn to get on the scoresheet as he finished well following an explosive break from defence.

Jules Orris then hit the post after some fancy footwork before play broke to the other end and found deputy keeper Gary McGeogh leaping into his first real action of the game, making amends for a poor throw-out by brilliantly tipping over the resulting netbound drive.

Carr-bridge kept up the pressure by virtually setting up camp in United's half. Fraser Gordon, Sam Wilkinson, Marcus Forrest and Martin Harrower all came close to adding number 3, but the first half ended 2-0.

United started the 2nd half with more of a spring in their step as ex-Carr-bridge striker Martin Kennedy forced another diving save from McGeogh, but normal service was resumed 3 minutes later when Marcus Forrest scored his second goal of the game, firing home from 6 yards out despite home calls for handball.

Carr-bridge then had more chances before the evergreen Ian Grant fought off several United defenders to deftly volley home from 10 yards out. Number 5 followed shortly after when Jules Orris broke from his own half and kept possession of the ball all the way into the net.

Grant was then denied his second when he forced United's keeper into a brilliant fingertip save, but 11 minutes later he made no mistake by slotting the ball into the net from an almost impossibly acute angle.

United's heads began to drop, so it was no surprise when Carr-bridge made it 7-0. Sam Wilkinson rode a tackle out on the far right wing and kept his feet to close in on goal and fire home under the diving keeper. United should have scored a late consolation but none of their 5 players in Carr-bridge's penalty area could find the net.

However Ian Cormack completed the rout from the resulting breakout as his speculative 25 yard drive bounced through the despairing keeper's legs to seal an 8-0 win and a semi-final clash at home to Tomatin on Tuesday night.

The Battle of the Hair - who won? Answers on a postcard to the usual address...

Carr-bridge MOM: Ian Cormack

Scorers: Gordon, Forrest (2), Grant (2), Orris, Wilkinson, Cormack

Team: McGeogh, Edwards, Zsedely, McIntosh, Wilkinson, Cormack, M.Harrower, Forrest, Grant, Orris, Gordon

Subs: None
Not used: None

Booked: None
Sent off: None

Half-time: 2-0