YFS
It was an extremly cold and windy day at Riverview Park on Sunday but that didn't stop Monifieth Athletic and Fairmuir BC from putting on a thoroughly entertaining match.
Both teams looked well worth their spots as semi-finalists in this year's Tommy Clark trophy, however only one could advance to the final and Sunday was Monifieth's day as they secured a penalties win over their DDYFA rivals. Athletic can now look forward to a cup final against Pitfour, who came through a tough match against Broughty Panthers.
The match began at a slow pace as both sides were to come to terms with the difficult playing conditions. Fairmuir were having more of the ball but Monifieth were happy enough to sit back and try to catch their opponents on the counter-attack.
For all of Fairmuir's possession, Monifieth were having the better chances with Aidan Lorente coming close for the home side on a number of occasions. Athletic came very close to an opening goal on the 23rd minute when a cross from Lorente nearly found its way into the path of Arran Ferry, who stretched as far as he could but could not get a decisive touch on the ball.
As the match progressed the roles were switched and Fairmuir were the ones trying to capitalise on the counter-attack, with Jamie McCann being a key figure for the away side with his jinky runs from his own half. He was key in getting Fairmuir up the pitch for long periods of the game.
They had their first real chance of the match on the half hour mark as Robbie Flynn hit a low shot towards the bottom left corner, only to have his effort saved well by Monifieth 'keeper Thomas Welsh. Zain Ferguson was next to trouble for Fairmuir but his low shot hit the side-netting.
Welsh was having a great game in the Monifieth goal and he had to be at his best to keep out what had to be the best chance of the half. Marcel Motyka was played through and attempted to dink the ball over the oncoming Welsh, who managed to get a strong hand to the ball and get rid of the danger.
It was the turn of the Athletic defence to keep the score level. Jamie McCann layed the ball into the path of Graeme Stewart who was about to get a shot off when Sean Kydd put in a last minute challenge to clear the danger.