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  • By-Gone Games: Tain vs Alness | Latest News | Tain Thistle AFC
  • By-Gone Games: Tain vs Alness

    In 1920, the reformation of the Ross-shire League had begun -- with teams from Evanton (Black Rock), Invergordon and Dingwall competing again and among the others to join were Alness and Tain (St Duthus).<br /><br />Most significantly for the latter two was their first meeting since the end of the First World War in 1920 with both sides finding themselves in the final of the Tain hosted Pattison Cup. Crowds flocked to "The Links" from both towns to view the spectacle, with the cup committee recording a gate of £10 - a record at the time for the town.<br /><br />Tain had disposed of Dingwall Vics (then recognised as Ross-shire's premier team) and Invergordon en route to the final, while Alness had made easy work of Cromarty and Golspie.<br /><br />The game was affected heavily by a strong wind, one which Alness benefited from early on, winning the toss for kick off and the weather advantage. Despite numerous corners for the visitors in the first half, no advantage was taken and the score remained 0-0 at the break.<br /><br />Despite Alness having the better of things (with three shots saved by the Tain custodian), it was Tain who took the lead with their first attempt on Maynard's goal -- and in bizarre fashion. A cross from Mitchell was left to go bye by the Alness stopped but it careered off the post and back into the goalmouth. The stramash that followed found the ball trundle into the net; Maynard's valiant efforts to prevent it going in only succeeded in pushing it further over the line, resulting in what would effectively be classed as an "own goal". <br /><br />The goal would be the only one of the game, with Tain securing the prize of the Pattison Cup in a 1-0 win. Presentations took place at the Temperance Hotel, awarded to the Tain captain by Mr D Sinclair of the North of Scotland Bank.<br /><br />The year marked a renaissance for Tain football, as they went on to secure the first post-war (1920/21) Ross-shire League championship soon after, overcoming teams from around the county, with five wins from six games.<br /><br /><img border="0" align="none" alt="" src="http://www.tainthistle.co.uk/news/data/upimages/5561.jpg"><br /><i>(Above: Tain St Duthus, Pattison Cup Winners 1920)</i><br /><br />The teams on the day were:<br /><br /><b>Tain St Duthus</b><br />Team:<br />W Munro, W Macleod, E M Fraser, R Earl, A Macleod, W B Dunnett, J G Holmes, D J H Mitchell, D Mackay, G Findlay, W Ross<br /><br /><b>Alness United</b><br />Team:<br />Maynard, Collins, Mackenzie, Grant, Macdonald, Maclean, Fraser, Young, Maclean, Darling, Lamb<br /><br />Referee - Mr W G Mackay, Dingwall

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