
A late penalty from Ross Bell clinched the Peter MacAvoy Cup for Fairmuir Violet. Gary Scobie had Fairmuir ahead with a thunderous first half free kick but Blair McCord levelled seven minutes after half time.
With five minutes to go, Bell was fouled inside the Ferry box and slotted home the penalty to secure Fairmuir the cup and keep their treble dream alive.
These two sides occupy first and second spot in the Presidents League, and it was Fairmuir that started brightest in their search for the opening goal. Ryan McLaren was twice denied by Stewart Linton in the opening stages.
Losing the influential Rory Faulkner early on didn’t help Ferry’s cause. Long range efforts from Andy Kelly and Tom Banyard didn’t trouble Steven Connor in the Fairmuir goal. Robbie Gallacher met a Ryan Scobie free kick after 26 minutes but couldn’t steer his header on target.
Scobie netted a free kick 12-months ago when these sides contested the Henry Dolan Cup final, and it was his left foot that rewarded Fairmuir for their efforts seven minutes before half time. The defender curled home a free kick from 25 yards that Ferry keeper Stewart Linton couldn’t keep out.
Linton was called into action moments later to keep out Cameron Tansey’s volley from a tight angle. The goalkeeper was quick to pounce on the rebound with McLaren looking to capitalise from the loose ball.
Ross Bell had been a thorn in Ferry’s side for most of the first half, and he nearly set up Gallacher for Fairmuir’s second, but Ross Fordyce managed to make a last-ditch block to deny the midfielder.