Tuesday 5 June 2007, 7:15pm
League

CARR-BRIDGE 11-0 KINGUSSIE

After a string of disappointing results, a depleted Carr-bridge side would have been expecting a very tough game against a rather youthful looking Kingussie side in this David Ritchie and Sons, Strathspey and Badenoch Welfare Football League encounter. Despite the visitors putting in a lot of effort and a never say die attitude, they were completely overwhelmed by a rampant Carr-bridge side who produced by far their best performance this season, and possibly for many seasons.

Manager Gordy MacDonald gave youngster David Mezals his first start upfront alongside Marcus Forrest, it turned out to be an inspired decision by the boss as the two youngsters bagged seven goals between them.

Carr-bridge took the game to Kingussie from the very first minute when Mulligan was unfortunate not to get on the end of a good run from Martin Harrower. However it was only another 5 minutes wait for the first goal as Forrest turned his marker on the half way line to feed a great ball over the top to Mezals who simply lobbed it over the advancing keeper to put Carrbridge 1-0 up. This goal seemed to spur Kingussie on, and Wilkinson and Zsedely had to be at their best to thwart the visitors. However Carr-bridge burst into life with three quick goals. The first on 20 minutes came after Kingussie keeper Munro spilled a Mulligan cross, and Forrest was the first to respond by poking the ball into the net. The same player was on hand to swivel and fire home after good build up from Jules Orris, Jamie Harrower, Scott MacDonald and Martin Harrower. Mulligand added a fourth with a sweetly struck shot from 15 yards on 27 minutes.

With half time approaching there was no let up from the home side: Ian Cormack fed Mezals on the half way line and the youngster showed a great turn of pace to race clear before firing a terrific shot across the keeper and into the far corner from fully twenty yards to make the score 5-0. Jamie Harrower had time to add a sixth after some neat exchange of passes with MacDonald, Forrest and Mazals.

If the visitors thought Carr-bridge were going to rest on their laurels they were soon in for a rethink as Martin Harrower's deep cross was headed back across goal by Mezals for Forrest to claim his hat-trick.

Mezals then took responsibility for a free kick some thirty yards out, when his effort thundered off the bar Zsedely was first to respond, although his header brought a great save from Munro, Scott MacDonald was on hand to fire home, 8-0.

Tom Stirling and Jamie Thom were indroduced to the fray replacing stalwarts Martin Harrower and Ian Cormack.  Mezals completed his  hatrick on 70 mins with a simple tap in and then added his fourth five minutes later. Substitute Ian Grant completed the scoring on 83 minutes after good work from Thom, Forrest and Mezals left the veteran with tap in from 5 yards.

To their credit Kingussie kept playing good football and only a last ditch tackle from Wilkinson and two fine saves from Gordy MacDonald denied them a consolation goal.

All in all a fantastic performance from Carrbridge, fast incisive football and top class finishing.

 

Carr-bridge MOM: David Mezals

Scorers: Mezals (4), Forrest (3), Mulligan, J.Harrower, S.MacDonald, Grant

Team: G.MacDonald, M.Harrower, Zsedely, Wilkinson, Cormack, S.MacDonald, Mulligan, J.Harrower, Orris, Forrest, Mezals

Subs: Stirling (for M.Harrower), Thom (for Cormack), Grant (for S.MacDonald)
Not used: None

Booked: None
Sent off: None

Half-time: 6-0

Match report by Stephen Purves