Bute Shinty Club’s second team remain undefeated in South Division Two after they shipped four goals past Aberdour last Saturday, May 21.
It was another home game and another victory for Bute’s second team, yet the scoreline was more convincing than the performance as Bute was forced to work hard for the win, only cutting loose towards the end of the second half.
Bute has made a habit of scoring early goals on their home turf, and this was no exception with John MacCallum finding the bottom corner from close range after only ten minutes.
The home side failed to capitalise on this, allowing Aberdour to come into the game as the half wore on, winning skirmishes in midfield to keep the ball in play without ever testing Gordon Currie in goals.
When Bute did move the ball through the forward line, chances were available, yet the Islanders couldn’t add to their lead before half-time.
The second half started with Bute’s midfield of Ronnie McMillan, Aiden McGregor and Ben Watson striving to gain a foothold in the game. Manager Stewart Stirling would then make a tactical shuffle as McGregor was moved forward into the attack, with this move paying immediate dividends as a finely taken strike from McGregor would double Bute’s lead.
The home side remained in the ascendancy with their strong defence of Chrissy Lawrence, Iain Crawford, Reuben Doyle and Ryan Tierney comfortably staving off any Aberdour attacks, strangling them of possession high up the park whilst laying the building blocks for Bute’s attacks.
With Bute pressing for more goals, Ruiraidh Soane channelled his inner Thor and unleashed two thunderous strikes in short succession, the first which Roddy MacColl’s lightning reflexes managed to tip over the bar, and the second which cannoned off the upright.
Just when Bute thought the game was put to bed, Aberdour snatched a goal from a high looping shot from wide on the right by Joseph Burns with seven minutes remaining.
Any motions of an Aberdour comeback were quickly ruled off, as Iain McDonald contributed his usual goal on 85 minutes to restore the two-goal cushion before the goal of the game from Craig Speirs, whose first touch inside completely wrong-footed the defender and his powerful drive smashed into the net inside the post to wrap up the win.
Bute now has a semi-final in the Bullough Cup to look forward to, but it is back to league duty this Saturday afternoon when Bute travel to play Aberdour. This will be the fifth occasion when either the first or second team has met Dour this season, with Bute currently winning four out of four.
