Friday 9 May 2008, 7pm
RBL Cup Semi Final

AVIEMORE THISTLE 1 - 3 CARR-BRIDGE

Carr-bridge overcame Aviemore Thistle for the seond time in a week with tonight's performance being very similar to that on Tuesday. It was the same starting XI that took to the field, leaving the returning Cormack and Wilkinson on the bench alongside Brown and MacDonald.

It was a very competitive first half with neither side being given much time with the ball, punctuated by moments of skill from McMonagle and McGowan, neither of whom however finding the net. Carr-bridge were then dealt a blow on the half hour as prolific striker Marcus Forrest limped off witha groin strain to be replaced by Sam Wilkinson. But even with the substitute's blistering pace up front, both teams went into the interval goal-less.

The second half started much brighter though, with McMonagle taking the game by the scruff of the neck and cracking a screaming 40 yard drive off the bar with Aviemore's stopper in no man's land. But it took only another couple of minutes for the deadlock to be finally broken, with Wilkinson latching onto a long ball from Bowles and into the back of the net. Cormack then replaced a tiring Hansen and made an immediate impact by slotting a perfect pass to McMonagle for the winger to slot home for number 2.

McGowan was creating chance after chance with carr-bridge piling on the pressure, and he wasn't to be denied his goal. Wilkinson's pace and pin-point ball found the young striker in the box and his diving header flew into the net for the visitor's third goal of the night. McGeoch was then switched with Brown as Carr-bridge maintained the pressure, and Wilkinson should have had a second second goal had his header not looped over the bar from 2 yards out.

Carr-bridge knew they were in next Friday's final by now, but a sweet drive into the top left corner of Bowle's net from old boy Brian Ritchie saw Thistle get a deserved late consolation goal.

Scorers: Wilkinson, McMonagle, McGowan

Team: Bowles, Hansen, Edwards, McIntosh, Rose, McGeoch, McMonagle, McInnes, Harrower, Forrest, McGowan

Subs: Cormack (for Hansen), Wilkinson (for Forrest), Brown (for McGeoch), MacDonald

Half-time: 0-0

MOM: McMonagle