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COWIE UNLUCKY AFTER EXTRA-TIME
Cowie Thistle 2 Bon Accord City 3 (AET) COWIE Thistle, were dining at the top table of Aberdeen Amateur football on Friday night, as they went head to head with Bon Accord City FC, Champions elect of the Premier Division, in the AFC Trophy Final at Hillhead Stadium.
A large support turned out to watch a truly thrilling spectacle, and while Cowie were ultimately unsuccessful in their bid to regain the prestigious prize, they certainly weren't found wanting in quality and heart.
The Thistle Class of 2010 flew out of the traps in an explosive opening salvo. The talismanic Leith was first to test the Bon Accord keeper, when he evaded a string of challenges to rasp a 20 yard drive on goal.
From the resulting corner, Thistle were ahead in five minutes. Fowler picked out the run of the irrepressible Maclean, and with a static defence left watching, he launched the ball home with a stunning half volley.
Bon Accord showed the character which makes them the top team in the entire Aberdeen Amateur set up, when they scored to level within five minutes. From a long throw in, Thistle stalwart Mason, who deserves a special mention after returning from military duty in Afghanistan where he served in the Armed Forces, cleared out, but only to the edge of the box when it was knocked back in, and eventually turned home after a scramble.
Fraser, and then MacMillan drew saves from the keeper, before MacMillan ran at a retreating backline, only to be scythed down for a penalty. Adie duly stepped up to convert, and Thistle had the half-time lead.
In the second half, Bon Accord pressed for an equaliser, but Thistle looked the most dangerous, with a number of rapier breaks which threatened to sink City, and bring the Cup home.
In a moment of huge controversy with 15 minutes left, Thistle were denied a third and surely match-winning goal after Leith set up Fraser, only for the linesman to flag for an alleged third party offside as the ball hit the net.
That injustice was only compounded when Bon Accord worked a scrappy equaliser, with five minutes remaining to break Cowie hearts.
Things got worse in a frantic extra time, when City took the lead for the first time, after a great build-up play was rewarded by a winner courtesy of a huge deflection.
However, Thistle have the mentality of champions, and they were not done. In a dramatic finale, Grant thought he'd forced penalties, only to see his rocketing goalbound header brilliantly stopped by the keeper, before a last minute scramble failed to bring the reward Cowie deserved as the referee blew for time.
Thistle may have been down, but on this evidence, after going toe to toe with the best Aberdeen has to offer, the most successful club in the history of Stonehaven amateur football will surely add more trophies to their bulging collection in seasons to come.
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Weather for Stonehaven
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 3 C to 5 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 3 C to 4 C
Wind Speed: 23 mph
Wind direction: South
