Inverness Athletic knocked out of Football Times Cup as St Duthus clinch final place
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Inverness Athletic failed in their bid to reach the Football Times Cup final after they were beaten 5–0 to south section leaders St Duthus in a winner takes all match at Inverness Royal Academy.
Having already lost three times to high-flying Saints this season, Athletic, without a number of key players, were up against it from the start. Goalkeeper Sandy Stephen was forced to make a couple of good saves early on from Cammy Mackintosh and Ben Bruce.
The opener duly arrived in the 20th minute when on-form Liam Rostock scored with a low drive which flew into the net off the inside of the far post.
The goal seemed to awaken the Athletic players and they enjoyed a good spell without really threatening the Saints’ goal.
But it was the visitors who grabbed a second goal on the stroke of half time.
It was Rostock again with a raking drive which flew into the top corner beyond Stephen’s outstretched hand.
The game looked over as a contest when St Duthus scored a killer third goal five minutes into the second half.
Ben Bruce was fouled by Liam Symonds inside the box and Rostock made no mistake from the spot.
Two late goals from Ben Bruce gave the scoreline a more emphatic look as Athletic face a three week lay-off over the festive period.
Inverness Athletic manager Jason Golabek admitted his team were chasing the game from the off.
“We never started the game well,” he said.
“We looked nervous for the first 20 minutes. We couldn’t get our passing going.
“We went 2-0 down just before half time and I told the players just to have a go in the second half and hopefully get an early goal, but at 3–0 it’s lights out.”
St Duthus will play the winners of the north section which is still to be decided.
In the other south section match, Invergordon defeated Lewis and Harris 5–1 at Ullapool High School.
Shaun Kerr, Joe Sutherland, Kyle Maclean, Jordan Knight and Darran Goller scored for the Ross-shire outfit.
In the north section, Golspie Sutherland eased to a 4–0 win against Halkirk United in Caithness.
While in the Sutherland derby, Bunillidh Thistle defeated Bonar Bridge 6–0 at Dornoch.
