Jacko's hold on to Rosebowl

Jacko’s have retained the Ally Ross Memorial Rosebowl with a convincing 3-0 win over Elgin Thistle at the Riverside in Nairn on Friday night.

Jacko’s had won through to the final with a 2-1 win over the Carisbrooke on Monday, Grant Falconer scoring a late winner.

With a feisty league match between the two sides going Jackos’ way 3-0 a week earlier, they were looking for a similar result, with Thistle looking for more success in their first ever cup final. Thistle started the better of the two, maintaining possession better, but weren’t able to create a chance. Jacko’s then began to get into the game, and the first chance fell to Graeme Kennedy as he went one-on-one with Thistle keeper Barry Grubb, but fired his shot straight at him.

The Nairn side, backed by the majority of a crowd close to the 100 mark, thought they had taken the lead on 15 minutes when Dave Green headed home, but he was declared offside, so the goal was chalked off.

Jacko’s were now in control, passing the ball well and limiting Thistle’s influence on the game. They began creating chances too. Matty McKenna saw his free kick superbly tipped round the post at full stretch by Grubb on 26 minutes. Kennedy headed over a couple of minutes later, then Grant Falconer found the side-netting just after that. Gregor Gordon finally got an effort on target for the Jags on 35 minutes with a half volley from distance, but it was an easy take for the Jacko’s keeper.

A moment that arguably changed the game came just before half-time, a Thistle break down the right saw the ball cut back to Kieran Hyndman, and the skipper pulled his shot across the keeper, but just wide of the post. From the goal kick the ball was lifted from the middle of the park to Dave Green on the left. He spotted the keeper off his line and lobbed the ball over him from just over 20 yards to put Jacko’s 1-0 up.

Jacko’s were galvanized, and doubled their advantage less than a minute after the interval. Grant Falconer got the ball just outside the area, took a touch to set himself up and curled the ball past the diving Grubb to put Jacko’s firmly in control. It nearly got worse for Thistle straight afterwards as Kennedy rounded the keeper, but was forced into a tight angle and shot against a post.

The game started to get bogged down with sloppiness in possession on both sides creeping in. Jacko’s were looking the more likely to score the next goal though, and the Thistle woodwork again survived a quick-fire onslaught. First Green left Grubb rooted to the spot with a left-foot curler from range that bounced off the top of the bar, then Kennedy was again left cursing the woodwork when he shot on the turn from 25 yards and rattled the bar too. Jacko’s weren’t to be denied their glory third goal, Jason Morganti in the final minute driving one into the top corner from the corner of the area to kick off the party.

The trophy was presented to Jacko’s captain Graeme Kennedy by David Ross, the nephew of Ally Ross.

There was one piece of league business that was taken care of on Thursday, as Dallas beat Nairn United 3-1. Nicky DeSylva opened the scoring after 10 minutes, but Davie Thorburn equalised for United.

The teams were level going into the second half, but didn’t stay that way for long, as Donnie McCulloch placed a shot home not long after the restart to give Dallas the lead again. Both teams gave their all trying to find the crucial next goal, and Dallas got it to seal the points, John McInnes volleying home.

This week’s fixtures (all kick-offs 7.30pm), Monday: Nairn Wanderers v Elgin Thistle, League, Riverside, Nairn. Tuesday: Mosset Tavern v Uncle Bobs, League, Roysvale, Forres. Wednesday: Auldearn v Nairn Utd, League, The Rec, Auldearn. Thursday: Jacko’s v Carisbrooke, League, Riverside, Nairn. Friday: Dream Team v Dallas, League, Pinefield, Elgin. Monday, July 11: Elgin Thistle v Nairn Utd, League, Pinefield, Elgin.