The Cromarty Comeback Starts Here!

If i were asked what the high points in my life were, i'd ponder and tell you about the times when i made myself proud; like when i got the grades to go to university, or when i graduated from Uni, or when i played with the infamous Topshelf in the Victoria Hall, or when i captained my university football team, or when i found out that the g-spot actually does exist. Then i'd restructure my answer because the smell of cheese from my first reeked too bad, so i'd tell you that i was happiest when bouncing about on Murray Hall hill drinking buckfast in the sun, or when i'm bouncing about in the arches to my favourite hardstyle tunes, or when i'm bouncing about my bed in search of the g-spot! But, in built in every Crom alongside the ability to smell the blood of a Parton from a half mile away is a passion for the beautiful game that outweighs even the truest avochies desire for his own sister! So What was the high point in my life? When we used to play football up the big park from dusk till dawn.

A generation of Croms all dedicated to the cause! There wasn't a dream in Cromarty that didnt involve a Yellow and Black top, an intense smell of deep heat, a lop sided football pitch and a crowd of racist men shouting abuse at anyone who didnt bare the gene of a Crom! Every Cromarty youngster wanted to play for his town, every Cromarty youngster wanted to fill the shoes of those fine athletes that graced our football pitch; Wambat, The Hill Brothers, John Boy and Murdo Mackay, all legends in their own right! That's what we wanted, that's what we dreamed of.

Unfortunately, a new millenium brought with it a dark age, and our team died alongside the skate park, the legion, the local bank and the irreplaceable petrol pumps outside the Mace. Without these landmark attractions Cromarty had become nothing more than a skitter stained pair of boxers on the Black Isle living off the legend of Hugh Miller. We were tossed to the wash basket without a box of Daz in sight! But deep within us remained that burning passion for the success of Cromarty F.C. and we climbed slowly from the bottom of the dirty laundrey pile to carry on the legacy that our forefathers started, and after 3 hard seasons, Cromarty F.C. are back on track!

Fortrose F.C. 4 - 4 Cromarty F.C.

St George's Park held venue to the first big derby match of the season, but it done little in the way of shielding us from the treachercus winds that could have blown the 50s out Jade Goody's rigid hands! The match started evenly and 10 minutes passed without a goal from either side... Cromarty couldn't have hoped for more when Jason Hill found himself in space with an easy through ball to Phil Macdonald who was leaving the Fortrose defence for dead. He unleashed a furious shot right at the keeper but the ferocity of the dig meant that keeper Jared Simpson could only parry straight back to the oncomming wing man who stabbed his second effort into the back of the net. Cromarty had made a dream start but true to Cromatry form it wasn't long before we were trailing.

The gales were blowing and causing our young keeper Craig all sorts of problems. In quick succession Fortrose scored two freak goals from outside the area. We continued to attack and Jason Hill came close with a left foot dig that sailed past the post. Jason continued to look impressive and again came close when he ran free of the Fortrose defence like they were the Fortrose police force, but his left foot drive was saved at the near post. Cromarty paid for not taking their chances as Fortrose went 3-1 up with a cheeky dink over the keeper.

The boy from Banjo island were not discrouraged by the scoreline at half time though because we played well in the first half. The second half did not start well however as Fortrose went 4-1 up with a scrappy goal. Luckily, Bob had planned ahead and instead of using normal water at half time, he sourced his water from Townlands Park where the h2o is blessed by the touch of god himself! Between the holy townlands park water and Phil Macdonald moving into centre of the park, the game was turned on its head. Cromarty piled on the pressure and Colin and Jason were causing Fortrose problems down the left flank. Their hard work paid off as Jason floated in a beautiful ball for Philip Macdonald to rise up like a salmon and power a header home. 4-2.

Fortrose looked like a team bewildered as Cromarty mesmorised them with some beautiful football. The Parton Army looked even more likely to get a result from the game with the introduction of Kevin 'spunky' Mcdonald as he terrorized the Fortrose defence with his blistering pace. Thankfully for Albert Ratcliffe, who had just missed an open goal from around a yard out a minute earlier, Spunky's Pace paid off as he won Cromarty a chance to go one goal behind from 12 yards out. Despite plea's from his team mates Philip Macdonalds stubborn ignorance reigned true as he demanded penalty taking rights to seal a Hat-trick in his first game of the season. He sent the keeper the wrong way and gave Cromarty a life line with 15 minutes remaining.

Two minutes after pulling it back to 4-3, Cromarty equalized through Kevin Mcdonald as he burried his volley past the Fortrose keeper. Cromarty carried on in their search for a winner and Greig Thompson came close to sealing the victory for Cromarty with a thunderous volley from the edge of the area. Fortrose gave next to nothing the whole of the second half but almost stole it at the death as Jamie Macdonald whipped a wicked ball into the box which was met by the head of Kai, and if it weren't for the heroics of Craig, Cromarty would have left empty handed.

The game finshed 4-4 and left Fortrose with a bitter taste in their mouths, although they were thankful that there wasnt any extra time on the clock.

Cromarty are once again looking like a side to beat; the introduction of some new faces like Brian at centre back, Colin at left mid, Stuart at right back and Darren up front are giving the regulars a fight for their positions. Not to mention Jason Hill continuing his rich vain of form, Brian Camerons Passion for the success of Cromarty and the young guns like Kevin Macdonald and Calum Mackay bursting through into the team.

Lets all hope that this young side can attract the large crowds that Cromarty are used to in their fight for silverware this season.