Back 0 Aths 0

A plethora of goals, chances aplenty and exciting attacking football. Yes all of this was missing at Upper Coll as both teams served up a coma-inducing match where the only excitement was guessing which car roof had been hit by an Aths clearance.

Maybe it was the importance of the occasion as both sides can play good football but the Highland Amateur Cup can bring out a “don’t lose” attitude in some teams and that’s how it seemed tonight.

Aths were minus Colin Macritchie but had an able replacement in ex-Back and Harris keeper Iain Mackay. For Back Euan Moley was injured whilst Hector MacPhee was inexplicably cup-tied after playing for a Uist team in the first round. Back took the game to Aths but chances were slimmer than Victoria Beckham’s waistline. Murray Macleod, who was just back from injury, was always looking to get past his marker but when he did the Aths defence was packed and picking out lone attacker Chris Adams was always going to be difficult.

Scott Maciver and Ross Hall resumed hostilities with the Back defender eager to make sure that his nemesis did not get on the score sheet this time. Aths were over reliant on the pace of Scott and Ali Walker to hit on the break and rarely troubled the Back defence where Innes Bomie was making his first start of the season. It was Innes who had the best chance of the half when he found himself unmarked in the box but his first shot of the season was high, wide and not exactly handsome.

The only other chances in a poor first half fell to Chris Adams. First he lost the ball under his feet and Iain Mackay was quick to smother his shot, then he lacked composure when he had space and time but blazed his shot over the bar.

Within minutes of the second half starting Scott Maciver and Nicolas Davis both

 went for the same cross and a distracted Davis headed wide. Back had the

possession but continually gave it way and a loose pass from Scott Macrury

saw Ali Walker sprint through the middle of the Back defence but his shot was

weak and straight at the keeper.

Chris Adams passed up chance number three when Inny Red crossed into his

path but Iain Mackay was much braver than the Back striker and got to the ball

 first. The match fizzled out and although Back sub Chris Macleod had the last

chance no one really expected it to score as this match was destined to end

goal-less.