Report

Ness started the stronger of the two sides, winning most of the possession, especially in the air. The first goal came after 10 minutes when Michael Adamson swung in a free kick which evaded everybody and bounced past young keeper Andrew Goodlad. Ness were dominating the play during the early part of this first half and both Stuart and James Farmer came close to doubling Ness-s lead with long range efforts. Spurs were looking dangerous on the counter attack but their efforts were failing to really test Ben Holland. Ness came close to increasing their lead again when Liam Flaws hit the post and a great cross from Sam Beeston flashed across goal with nobody there to touch it over the line. Spurs gradually weathered the storm and Iain Goodlad and Nethen Watson starting to create gaps in the Ness defence. With a couple of minutes of the half remaining, Watson made Ness pay. He made a terrific run in behind the defence then used great skill to weave around the keeper before rolling the ball into an empty net.
In the second half Spurs started much the stronger side, almost scoring with the first attack which Ross Sinclair did well to clear. 10 minutes into the second half Spurs took the lead in controversial fashion. Referee Robbie Summers awarded Spurs a free kick on the very edge of the area when it appeared Spurs-s Sam Maver was the player who actually handled the ball. The Ness players were too busy protesting that they failed to concentrate from a resulting corner and Ryan Thomason bundled the ball over the line after a sliced clearance. The Ness teamed now virtually imploded. Rash tackles, bickering and mis-placed passes all played into Spurs-s hands. Their midfield trio of Watson, Thomason and Haydn Jamieson were dominating play. Spurs increased their lead when Iain Goodlad was played through and he did lobbed the advancing keeper to put Spurs within touching distance of the Brian Peterson Cup Final. Goodlad went close to adding a fourth after a great run soon after. Ness finally got things together and Stuart Farmer pulled a goal back with an excellent free kick with 10 minutes remaining. Farmer then found himself in the referee-s book for dissent. Spurs nearly sealed it but Goodlad-s effort came agonisingly off the post. Referee Summers blew for full time in what was a very entertaining game for the neutrals. Ness will be very disappointed that they never took their first half chances and that they lost their heads at the vital moment in the second half. Credit to Spurs who deservedly take their place in the final with Iain Goodlad and Patrick Szabo impressing most on the night.