By ict nairn
May 20 2004

First in Focus - The Weekly Division 1 Review

Nairn ICT reporting for Rosscountyfc.Net - Sat 15th May 2004

***Bumper Last Day Title Decider As It Happend Edition***

Final Day sees Caley Thistle Champions as Clyde do a Morton and end with Nothing.

The Final day in the Bells 1st Division and the Championship was decided, Clyde put the pressure on Inverness taking the lead at Brechin through Pat Keogh's 2nd minute strike before Caley Thistle had even kick off in the Highlands, Clyde went 2 up again through Keogh in the 20th minute and were 3 up in 25 minutes, Caley Thistle then got going an overhead kick from David Bingham in the 30th minute that the St Johnstone keeper could only flap about with before bundling over the line, Keigan Parker equalised for Saints a minute before half time with a stunning long range shot that beat Mark Brown in his top left corner and then Caley had the ball in the net again but was disallowed for offside by the stand side assistant. Into the 2nd half and with Clyde having the advantage, Just as Barry Wilson was about to take his penalty for Inverness Clyde had made it 4 down at Glebe Park, anyway Wilson struck the penalty and sent the keeper the wrong way and Caledonian Stadium was jumping, probably so much so that the celebrating streaker was probably seen only by the amount who'd ever been inside Caledonian Stadium before todays game. By now Caley Thistle were having their own way and taking St Johnstone apart and it was probably fitting that Paul Ritchie playing his last game for the club should get the title clinching goal, 3-1 Caley Thistle in 76 minutes, The helecopter was on its way to Inverness, down at Brechin things were still going on, Pat Keogh got his hat-trick in 79mins and a late Brechin ralley Chris Templeman with a penalty in 80 and a goal in 88 minutes, but at the end of the title deciding games, it was the Caley Thistle fans who celebrated on the pitch at the final whistle before clearing way for the Championship Presentation at 5:15pm.

Elsewhere in the Bells 1st Division Ayr United already relegated left the Bells 1st Division with pride after they beat Raith Rovers 1-0 at Somerset Park through Andrew Ferguson's goal in 40 minutes. Down in Dumfries, Queen of the South ended the season on a high, Emilio Jaconelli giving the Doonhammers an 18th minute goal which went on to seal a last day win against last season's champions Falkirk.

The Final Game in the Bells First Division Focus review for this season goes to this websites team, Ross County as they travelled down the A9 to Paisley, The Buddies could have been 3 up in 7minutes at Love Street but John O'Neil hit the post with 1 of his opening shots, On loan Rangers keeper Graeme Smith made a fine save from McGinty before Kevin McGowne gave St Mirren the lead in injury time of the first half, County could have equalised early in the 2nd half but it wasnt to be and McGinty fired a 12 yard rocket past Graeme Smith in 77minutes to give the Paisley Saints a 2-0 win on the final day, County probably looking to next season and just glad to get this final game over with. Airdrie United and Hamilton are coming to Division 1 next season to replace Ayr United and Brechin City.

Thats the final First In Focus for season 2003-04 From Nairn ICT and Rosscountyfc.Net Congratulations to Inverness Caledonian Thistle on being Champions, Airdrie United and Hamilton Accies on Promotion from Division 2, commiserations to Ayr United and Brechin City who are Relegated and also to Morton and Dumbarton who failed to win promotion on the final day from Division 2.

Bells First Division.....
Sat May 15 2004 Ayr United (1)1 - 0(0) Raith Rovers
Brechin City (0)2 - 5(3) Clyde
Inverness CT (1)3 - 1(1) St Johnstone
Queen of the S (1)1 - 0(0) Falkirk
St Mirren (1)2 - 0(0) Ross County

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First in Focus Coloumn by nairn ICT