Craig Park, Morayside and District League, 18/6/24
Me 314, Wee Man 178
Craigellachie Football Club
Some times the fitba gods look down on you. We would always have been heading to a game somewhere tonight that’s for sure. But what a pick for us. The reason it was chosen was because we drove past on the way to Aviemore a couple of weeks ago and Wee Man asked who played there. This followed by, “can we watch them?”. Always being an advocator of fitba is not a TV programme, this combined with my lack a shits given for International football, tonight was a perfect opportunity to visit one of the most mispronounced towns I have ever known. I can assure you both of us are more than delighted this was the case after witnessing what unfolded.
But Craig Park was not the first port of call. Across the A941 was, or under it as it were. This to see the stunning piece of engineering that is the Old Craigellachie Bridge. It is a beauty for sure and somewhere I have passed many many times but I have never got close to it. Glad I did tonight as it unleashed the inner geek in me. Wee Man was chuffed too as he got to launch a pile of stones into the Spey.
To Craig Park we headed with a bit of time to spare for a kick about. I was a big fan of it as soon as we meandered down the hill towards it. Green everywhere you looked, from the grass to the trees to the garden shed to the nettles. But it had something about it. Something that makes me want to watch games at a place like this. A wee gem on the banks of the Spey, sounds familiar to local league rivals Aberlour Villa. Would the game be to the standard of this charming verdant setting. In all honesty, it was better. Where do I start with this epic battle.
RAF had a big chance in the first couple of minutes when big striker Ryan Wood was unmarked at the back post but gently knocked the ball into the hands of Craig keeper. A sitter and amusing to Wee Man and me, unbeknown that we had just witnessed the first touch of one of the best players we were to see all season. It wasn’t long before Wood made up for his error when he superbly rolled his body round his marker leaving a clear shot at goal which he lashed home from ten yards. RAF looked the better team and were on the front foot causing difficulties for the Craig defence but with their first real attack the home side equalised when a ball over the top found Jordan Gray who walloped an effort across goal and into the top corner. The RAF defence had shut off as they were claiming offside but the Craig man wasn’t caring as he wheeled off celebrating. This brought Craigellachie into the game and it was a good contest and end to end. The next big opportunity fell to RAF who rattled the post. But it was only seconds later when RAF regained the lead when that man Wood unleashed a howitzer of an effort from 20 yards. Everything about it was ace. The touch, the hit, the power, the sound of the connection reverberating round the trees and the keeper diving after it was past him. What a truly brilliant strike which was to start an incredible 5 minutes. This because immediately after, the home side equalised when Arron O’Hara scored with a low effort from inside the box. But the toing and froing continued again in rapid fashion as RAF once again took the lead. This time it was Ben Carby who slotted an effort from 6 yards when he took advantage of the Craig defence letting the ball drop in the box. A poor goal to give away as three defenders were in the vicinity. But once again, the lead did not last as O’Hara danced through the RAF defence to net from a handful of yards. Although a good solo goal, I am sure he could have had his clock cleaned before he entered the box. Four goals in 5 minutes we had just seen. But the best was still to come. This was when Craigellachie took the lead for the first time in the game 4 v 3 with a thirty-five yard freekick from Colin Coutts who was mid goal, this flew like a dart into the top left hand corner. Because we were behind the goal at the other end we were treated to the flight of the ball from behind. I even let out a “what a hit min” as I vigorously applauded. Something I am not in the habit of as I prefer to be neutral, but a worldie is a worldie and deserves praise. The game settled for a period and without the frantic goal action I gave me a chance to realise the bloody midges were rife. This being the first time we have been eaten alive this season. The the frantic goal action returned, as the minutes of the half were petering out. RAF grabbed an equaliser when Carby half volleyed from the edge of the box into the top corner. Another superb hit to the nights collection. As this was on the forty-fifth minute it was surely the last action of the half. Nope. RAF went to retake their lead when Wood ran in at the back post unopposed to knock home a cross into the roof of the net sealing his hat-trick. Surely RAF were to go into the break in the lead. Nope and to be fair to Wee Man as he said it would happen,Craigellachie went up the park from kick off and equalised again with a second hat-trick of the game when O’Hara notched his 3rd. This ending the half, an absurd but enthralling half of fitba.
HT 5 v 5
The half time kick about seemed irrelevant due to the awesome happenings on the pitch. Was the second half to live up to the first. It couldn’t possibly in all honesty but it was decent viewing. Both teams went at each other, both had chances. But with the game not being so crazed it gave more chance to see the the surrounds and register you were clearly in whisky country. This due to the amount of tankers and grain trucks passing by heading in the direction of Rothes along the adjacent A941. The most clear cut chance fell to Wood who saw a close range effort well blocked. This was followed by RAF striking the bar with a shot which seemed to come from a out of nowhere from a raft of bodies. Was the half going to end goalless after a ten goal first period? It was looking that way. As we moved up to the car park end as time ticked on, RAF took the lead when Wood netted his fourth with a tap in from a couple of yards. I would have to say it was deserved as Craig had dropped out the game somewhat. But the scoring was not over as Carby was upended in the box. He grabbed the ball himself to take the kick to complete his own hat-trick. This led to an amusing moment when his manager shouted tongue and cheek that the usual penalty taker was to take it, for a second you saw fury in Carby’s face until he realised the shout was in jest. He made no mistake and killed the game with what was a well deserved treble. I say deserved as he was excellent from the first minute. One of the most dangerous players we have seen at any level on or travels this season. A top player. One I would easily go and watch again. (Would we be allowed into RAF Lossie to watch a game?). That was that and unfortunately all good things must come to an end. The referee blew for full time and Wee Man said “I bet the Portugal game doesn’t have twelve goals, imagine we didn’t come here?”. This cementing the fact he was chuffed to be in Craigellachie. I bloody was that’s for sure. Another fine example of what I will tell anyone that will listen. Fitba does not need to have multi million pound mercenaries to create top entertainment. Superb stuff. One again the Welfare level has thrown up the goods. The last thing on the night, our most frequented club together is Banks o’ Dee. Somewhere which which feels almost local as we visit so much. Spain Park takes around forty-five minutes to get to. However, surprisingly, Craigellachie only takes 5 minutes more to reach from our Meldrum abode. That doesn’t sound feasible. But it is true.
Entrance – Free
Attendance – 17
Pie – N/A
Pint – Opted for a kick about instead
Score predictions – Me 1 v 2, Wee Man 2 v 1
Season Score Predictions Total – Me 2 v 2 Wee Man
FITBAWBAG 