Carloway FC – A View from the Bootroom
‘Communism v Alcoholism’
Scottish Banner at Soviet Union versus Scotland game at the 1982 World Cup Finals.
The humour of football fans in the face of adversity is well documented but the faith of the Carloway fans has been seriously tested by a run of cup semi-final defeats stretching back right to the last century. Thankfully that miserable run came to an end this month but first we cast our minds back to a table-topping trip south.
Friday 13th April 2007 Harris 2 Carloway 6
Carloway went top of the league on goal difference after an explosive performance at Rally Park. Harris went ahead with a fine opener from Davie Grantbut the Blues were in no mood to hold back and goals from Scott Macaulay, Phil Macleod, Kenny Docus (pen) and Calum Tom Moody established a comfortable half-time lead. After the interval, second goals from both Kenny Docus (another pen) and Phil Macleod secured the three points with Harris only having a Steven Lennieconsolation to show for their efforts. Early days but a promising start.
Wednesday 18th April 2007 United 2 Carloway 3 (Acres Cup 2nd Round))
The strong start to the season continued with a hard-fought victory at Goathill which set up a mouth-watering semi-final at home to West Side. Phil Macleod continued his goal-scoring start to the season with a brace either side of Allan Don Mackenzie’s equaliser for the home team. A third from Scott Macaulay ensured Carloway’s passage forward with Lewis Mackenzie’s consolation coming in the final minute.
Friday 27th April 2007 Carloway 0 West Side 1 (Acres Cup Semi-final)
Prior to this game Carloway had lost an astonishing twelve semi-finals in a row since 1999 and tonight’s game, which turned out to be the thirteenth, certainly proved to be unlucky. Gordon Tago, desperate for his first goal since returning to the club, turned away in jubilation after slashing the ball into the net from close range after 25 mins only to be brought down to earth by the referee’s whistle and the award of a mystifying free kick. Tago’s bad luck continued at the start of the second staff when his volley struck the post and rebounded to a West Side player leading to a counter-attack and the winner scored by DJ Macleod. A bad injury to Peter Dokus set the seal on a depressing night for Carloway.
Monday 30th April 2007 Back 4 Carloway 0
Carloway, with fortysomething defender Dol Beag drafted into the defence, never fully got going against a new look Back side and were eventually well beaten. Goals from Polish striker Jack Kacbarczyk and Murdo ‘Gress’ Maclennan alongwith a double from Iain Macinnes did the damage but Carloway will be most concerned to the time and space offered to the Back defence and midfield as they built the play form the back with Murdo ‘Bloxy’ Murray prominent in his new role as sweeper.
Monday 7th May 2007 Carloway 2 Stornoway Athletic 3
A much improved performance from the home side who lost the initiative after a losing a controversial second half penalty while leading through Kevin Macleod’s excellent first half strike. The penalty in the sixtieth minute was one of those ‘ball to hand’ or ‘hand to ball’ disputes which are difficult to judge in real time but which would have left a certain Mr Mourinho furious – Dee wasn’t too happy either !! Paul Murray coolly dispatched the spot kick, however, and, revitalized, Aths sealed the game with strikes from Scott Maciver in the eightieth and eighty-fifth minute. Kenny Docus scored a fine second for Carloway with minutes remaining but there was to be no equaliser.
Wednesday 9th May 2007 Carloway 5 Ness 0 (Jock Stein Cup – Round 2)
Carloway shuffled the pack after three disappointing results with legendary Carloway goalscorer Gordon Craigie returning upfront having cast his goalie gloves aside. A heavily depleted Ness side battled hard but Carloway finished the first half strongly and fine strikes from Murdo Squeg and Criagie had them in control. The second half was even better with further goals from Calum Tom Moody, Kenny Dokus and Craigie again sealing an excellent victory and a chance for semi-final revenge against West Side.
Saturday 12th May 2007 Benbecula 3 Carloway 1 (Highland Amateur Cup 2nd Round)
Carloway will have to wait another year for a first-ever mainland Highland Amateur Cup tie after this year’s cup run ended at the first hurdle. Despite going ahead through Scott Macaulay’s opener, Carloway lost control and two Shuan Macinnes goals steered the tie Benbecula’s way – a third for the Uist side from Mark Macrury sealed the victory and ensured it would be a long journey north for Carloway.
Friday 18th May 2007 Harris 2 Carloway 2 (Co-op Cup 1st Round) (Harriswon 5.3 on penalties)
Carloway handed Harris their first victory of the season after a poor performance at Rally Park. A brace from the rejuvenated Gordon Craigie kept Carloway in it despite goals from Harris veterans Geoff Petersen and Steven Lennie and, although Harris dominated much of the second half, Carloway had chances to win it at the end. It wasn’t to be, however, and a Kenny Docus miss led to 5.3. penalties defeat.
Monday 21st May 2007 Carloway 5 Ness 0
The home side got back on track after two cup defeats and repeating their five nil thrashin of Ness earlier this month. Craigie was again to the fore with another double while
Kevin Macleod, Kenny Docus and Phil Macleod were also on the scoresheet.
Monday 28th May 2007 West Side 0 Carloway 2 (Jock Stein Cup Semi-final)
YEEHAAAAAH !!! Carloway ended their long run of semi-final defeats with a hard fought victory over a West Side team who will play a lot worse and win. Scott Macaulay got the opener in the first half with an assured finish after being put through by Gordon ‘Tago’ and the game was in the balance right up until Craigie slotted how a penalty with 15 mins remaining. Carloway’s heroes were all at the back with Calum Tom and big Louie outstanding.
Monday 4th June 2007 Carloway 3 West Side 4
West Side got their revenge for the cup defeat and duly put some space between themselves and Carloway in the league table. Two own goals from the Carloway defence undid some good attacking play and Dan Macphail’s last-gasp winner for the Siarachs was wildly celebrated infront of the disappointed home fans.
Friday 9th June 2007 Carloway 0 Lochs 4 (Jock Stein Cup Final)
A cracking night , a big crowd at Goathill and Carloway on top against the Lochies for the first twenty minutes – it doesn’t get much better than this…… and unfortunately it didn’t. Carloway were left to rue not scoring while on top and goals from Andrew Dunn and David Kinnaird put the Lochies in control at half-time. Carloway stayed in the match, however, and it was a measure of their brave performance than both second half goals were conceded on the break with men committed forward. Nomie Macdonald scored the third and then set up and Don Lava for a cracking fourth.
‘Mon the Carloway!
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