Connect with us

Groundhopper

Tomatin United (Tuesday, June 5)

I have spent the day on a beach near Aberdeen and am now making my way to a Badenoch & Strathspey Welfare League match.

Tomatin United

TUESDAY, JUNE 5

Tomatin United 3 Strathspey Thistle Colts 1

I have spent the day on a spectacular, deserted, sun-drenched beach near Aberdeen and am now making my way towards The Cairngorms for a Badenoch & Strathspey Welfare League match in the evening.

My route takes me through Braemar and then across the moor-covered Lecht summit, ominously shrouded in thick cloud. I basically follow the route The Olympic torch relay will be taking in a couple of weeks’ time. Magnificent!

Tomatin United play in the tiny hamlet of Raigbeg on the banks of the River Spey. It is at the head of the Findhorn Valley, colloquially known as ‘Eagle Valley’ amongst birdwatchers.

I join 29 spectators and five million midges (did you know it is only the females that bite? Insert your Sunesque sexist joke here…) to watch the game in this superb setting.

Scheduled start time is 7.15pm but we are underway at 7.05pm. The stand-in linesman is using his flag to waft away the midges, which causes some initial confusion. The players dash about enthusiastically, no doubt trying to outrun their insect pursuers!

There are some excellent youngsters on show. Colts take the lead through a penalty and then add to it on the stroke of half time, or so I thought. United put on a determined show in the second half and snatch a win by the odd goal in five, or so I thought. They even miss a penalty; the crowd giggle when it is scuffed wide. In summary, it is a cracking match.

The evocative bubbling call of the curlew accompanies the referee’s final whistle and the spectators are finally able to seek refuge from the drizzle and pesky insects.

Imagine my surprise when I read the local pape’s report on Tomatin’S excellent “3-1 victory”!!! Either I am going crazy or the report is incorrect. It turns out I am going crazy.

The Strathspey goal on the stroke of half-time must have been disallowed (he was miles offside when his cross-cum-shot went sailing over the keeper). Maybe I will never know but I am aggrieved to have been mysteriously robbed of a goal!

[email protected]

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Tackle the News

- Sign Up for our weekly Non-League Newsletter
Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.
1000gbp
My Betting SitesFootball progs
NLS Lens
Stadium Solutions
Isuzu
Brandon Hire Station
free bets

 

Irish Betzillionbest-betting-sites-by-betinireland-banner

Casino bee

More in Groundhopper

  • Diary of Diary of

    Diary of a Groundhopper: Gornal Athletic 1-3 Tipton Town

    TUESDAY, APRIL 30TH GORNAL ATHELTIC 1 TIPTON TOWN 3 THERE are still plenty of matches available to those who want their football fix and long may it continue into late spring and summer! While perusing my fixtures booklet, a short note leaps to my attention: Gornal Athletic are playing their...

  • Diary of Diary of

    Diary of a Groundhopper: Highworth Town 2-3 Great Wakering Rovers

    SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 17 Today looks like it will finally be the day The Fox and I get to visit Highworth Town’s Save on Tyres Stadium. I know clubs are desperate for sponsorship but this is one of the dullest names for a ground I can remember. The weather has been...

  • Diary of Diary of

    Diary of a Groundhopper: Boro Rangers 4-0 Northallerton Town

    This week, I am following in the footsteps of The NLP’s own Tony Incenzo, who recently visited the home of Boro Rangers in the Northern League. His feature on the club revealed they play at England’s newest football stadium. It’s one of only two grounds I need in my favourite...

  • Diary of Diary of

    Diary of a Groundhopper: Paget Rangers 2 Walsall 5

    TUESDAY DECEMBER 12TH I’ve been in Panama dreaming of the cold weather in England (but not the place) while ‘sweating buckets’ in 100% (110% in football parlance) humidity! With no time for research on my return, I rely on The Fox to pick a match for us on Tuesday night....