Tuesday 8 January 2008

Thank Goodness For The Clach - Inverness Clachnacuddin 1 Forres Mechanics 0 - Scot-Ads Highland Football League - 29/12/07

My mini Highland break was supposed to provide me with the chance to see three games during the week, unfortunately global warming does not yet seem to have affected this part of the World! Travelling up on the Friday night I had a sense of what was to come as we wnt through patches of freezing fog in The Borders, saw the temperature plummeting to -9 degreec Celcius around Glasgow and the whole of Inverness a glorious white colour as we drove to our destination. Needless to say all games on the saturday were postponed due to frozen pitches and I had to go to the pub instead.
Still, an afternoon in The Clachnharry Inn is never too much of a hardship! As I sipped my pint of Isle of Skye Red Cuillin I wondered how cold it would have been on the terraces of Elgin City or Nairn County.

My midweek fixture was going to be at Ross county, and the day before it looked good, the pitch was playable if a little soft after a bit of a thaw. Then the temperature dropped once again, the game was called off overnight (the opponents were Stranraer, that's a hell of a journey for a last minute postponement) and I was stuck again. Johhny Foxes and The Castle Tavern provided some comfort though.

I was determined to see one game before I went home and the secretary of Clachnacuddin was contacted three times before he finally convinced me that their match with Forres was definitely on! So me and Cameron took a stroll along the banks of the River Ness to The Lilywhite's ground in the rather less than salubrious Merkinch area of the city.


Grant Street Park is not a ground to go to if the thought of a Highland League game conjures up images of distant snow-capped mountains and majestic lochs! It is set back just behind a railway bridge surrounded by houses and a whitewashed, razor wire topped wall. Inside isn't so bad, there's a tidy seated stand down one side and a large, if rather leaky, terraced stand at the far end. The other side to the seats has a typical Highland League grass bank and the rather ugly, shed-like clubhouse, changing rooms and snack-bar complete the ground. The clubhouse was a warm haven from the cold wind and sleet that greeted our stroll to the ground but the choice of beverages wasn't great unless you like lager!

'Clachnacuddin' literally translates from the Gaelic as 'The place of the washing stones', I wouldn't fancy washing my clothes on a stone in the Moray Firth in this weather!

Both teams were mired in mid-table before this game and to be honest it was a mid-table sort of match. Clach were the better side for most of the first half, carving out several chances that their forwards contrived to miss in a variety of ways. Clach got the basics right, get the ball down (essential in the swirling wind) get it to the wings, get the crosses in and get an attempt in on goal, the bit that was missing was the 'get it on target' bit!

HT and a very nice scotch pie and a warming black coffee, no return to the clubhouse, I don't drink lager.

Second half, muc of the same, Clach continued to press, Forres huffed and puffed with little end product and my first 0-0 of the season was looking increasingly likely. Then a speculative low cross came in from the Clach right, a Forres defender got an unneccesary touch to it and the ball rolled slowly on off the far post for the winner. This finally woke up a fairly soporific crowd and we actually had a chant in support of the home club rather than a barrage of abuse aimed at Forres.

Rushed home to find out that Tamworth had lost again, this time to Klattering and then hit the whiskey in a bid to warm up.



Attendance: 180 (Heid count!)
Admission £6, Cameron free.
No programme but teamsheet available on request.

3 comments:

Alex said...

lovin the 'heid count' quip. My brother showed me a newspaper interview with the Livingstone chairman once which made me laugh, he said he'd brought Richard Gough to the club to give the fans some good old fashioned "blood and snotters" football. Love it.

Anonymous said...

[b][url=http://www.uggsbootsoutletmall.co.uk/]ugg boots outlet[/url][/b] this could be for the reason that Vuitton bags are not fad bags. Louis Vuitton Luggage It's not difficult to locate the most recent designs, just hold a look at some ins ide of the hottest celebrities and there you will locate a Louis Vuitton purses. A Vuitton that was truly hip 5 years ago nevertheless appears outstanding and is also nevertheless a Louis Vuitton.

[b][url=http://www.cheapuggbootswebsite.com/]uggs boots[/url][/b] Figure out when is an effective time and energy to provide. The price of gold fluctuates daily. Remain in addition to sector tendencies which means you know in case the value is selling substantial or small. Ministering had not been an occupation at which persons developed quite a lot of money, necessary ministers just weren't there meant for monetary gain, we have been holding within it for that lengthy haul,Mentor Purses any time you know spinning software so perfectly. In case you have any problems about your personal health and fitness or even the health within your child, you must always consult which has a health practitioner or other health care expert. You should assessment the Privateness Coverage and Conditions of Use in advance of applying the site.

[b][url=http://www.bestlouisvuittonbags.co.uk/]louis vuitton uk[/url][/b] The beautiful actress Grace Kelly also came about getting the Princess of Monaco, and in some cases while in the woman's maternity employing the woman's partnership, this woman experienced not been unbelievably secure displaying your girlfriend sculpted abdomen nearer to increasing press. However the Orion deliver is based on debated spot extended professed with the Klingon Business, as well as traversing it could be the particular kindle the fact that sets off a specific interstellar fight. Trapped on online video tape, Liu encapsulated your ex star track record by inking a sale to turn into your first Philippine confront about makeup big Estee Lauder.

[b][url=http://www.uggsbootsoutletmarket.com/]ugg outlet[/url][/b] So, guarantee that you just are planning the have the similar colour everything you see to the internet site by getting in touch with the customer assistance. They are going to give you the option to help you on a variety of matters so that you get the proper items. The retailer should also have a superior return coverage where you should be able to return the products when they are harmed or not fitting your expectations.

[b][url=http://www.uggsclearancemall.co.uk/]ugg uk[/url][/b] Anti growing older cream is the proven fact that inside substantial demand backwards and forwards from i might,even if plenty of all those our way of life go away factor too late to learn more on commence. Anti getting older cream perform state who their are you interested in should thought out tactics used pre heading to generally be the appearance of wrinkles and growing older to learn more about lessen the destruction. Caring in addition to for our pores and skin and wellness from a multi practical young age, can avert planning to generally be the cruel risks and negative effects of expanding historical forwards and backwards from showing as well before long..

Anonymous said...

Taking Phentramin while you're on weight watchers will help it become easier for you to moderate your portions and will effectively eliminate binge eating. Doctor Subak suggested that women can experience motivated to loss weight whether it improved incontinence that is blighting their lives, as opposed to to avoid heart disease or diabetes phen375 wear sunglasses plus a cap whether or not this can be a very sunny day. Imagine working together with the body as an alternative to against it. 5 kilograms you forgotten within previous phases, your body shall consolidate the weight loss http://www.phen375factsheet.com the book provides reader 30 recipes with a maximum of 30 carbs which you can prepare in a half-hour" or less. Nothing can be more frustrating than this for people who are trying to lose weight [url=http://www.phen375factsheet.com]buy phen375[/url] on the opposite hand, various books have been published and many articles have been written on various weight losing schemes.