League Play-Off

Helmsdale Park
Spectators: 35 (Terracing: 27, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) Ken Carrigan made the kick off and thus started the match. Derek Skenes short, quick shot in the 3rdth minute got Ewan Gilbertson to make great effort and bar the ball away from getting in. Martin McLaren showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Ken Carrigan, who was totally free with the ball in the 7th minute. Ken Carrigan fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 11th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Martin McLaren having to interfere. Alexander McPhillip hit a great freekick 14 minutes into the match. Ken Carrigan took the ball and in the 21 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Martin McLaren. Martin McLaren dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 0-1. Ewan Gilbertson showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Bruce McConnell in the 32nd minute of the match. The crowd rose to their feet as Bruce McConnell kicked a wonderful shot that went in to the left of a diving Ewan Gilbertson. That made the score 1-2 in the 36 minute of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Bruce McConnell in the 44th minute of play forced Menstrie AFC's goalkeeper Ewan Gilbertson to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Even after changing tactics the home team jogged off the field with a 1-2 deficit. They would have to work harder if they wanted to turn things around in the second half.

The wind increased when Bruce McConnell made the kick off in the second half. Derek Skene fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 51st minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Ewan Gilbertson having to interfere. Helmsdale FC's Martin McLaren proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 56th minute of the match, managed to save Helmsdale FC from getting a goal against them. Ken Carrigan fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 60th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Martin McLaren having to interfere. If Alexander McPhillip had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 66th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. 72 minutes into the match, Menstrie AFC's goal looked a bit too open when Bruce McConnell came free, but Ewan Gilbertson reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Blair Dobie kicked well hit freekick during the 75th minute of the match. Derek Skene struck a weak shot in the 77th minute. Ewan Gilbertson didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Helmsdale FC. Derek Skene received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 79th minute. Ewan Gilbertson tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Brian McEachin sent away a hard shot on goal in the 83rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 86th minute of the match Fraser French shot from a long distance. The ball could have gone into the goal to the right of the goalkeeper, but Ewan Gilbertson showed his good shape when he easily got hold of the ball. In the 88th minute, Menstrie AFC's Ken Carrigan ran free of his marker and smoothly shot the ball into the goal behind Martin McLaren. Martin McLaren yelled at his defense, as they had left him out to dry. 1-3. Charlie Ronald's late challenge caught a Menstrie AFC's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Charlie Ronald helped the player get up and apologised. Menstrie AFC's Ivan McQuaire couldn't find anyone to pass the ball to, so he shot a long shot towards the goal in the 93rd minute. The shot went wide which resulted in a goal kick for Helmsdale FC. 94 minutes into the match, Ken Carrigan dribbled the ball past the defender and swiftly kicked the ball to the left of Martin McLaren, 1-4. The Helmsdale FC supporters were disappointed that their team didn't take anything from the match, despite matching Menstrie AFC's performance. The match ended with a win for Menstrie AFC.