Tarbert AFC

The Dookers started the stronger team and goals by James Smythe and Iain Johnson in either half looked to have booked their team’s place in the final.

However, Inverkip made for a nervy final few minutes when they pulled a goal back late on in the match. But Tarbert held on to reach the final at Somerville Park, Cambuslang, against Carlton YM ‘B’ on Tuesday.

The team will have the chance to size up their cup final opponents when they meet them on league duty at Cil Andreis tomorrow (Saturday). Kick off is 2.30pm.

Semi-final scorer Smythe will miss the final and the club’s remaining fixtures this season as he requires an operation to his wrist.

Their midfield talisman has had a terrific season, with solid displays and vital goals.The Dookers were also back to league action on the same weekend with a home victory over Paisley Reid Kerr.

Losses

Following two successive league losses, Tarbert were glad to get back to winning ways with a determined display on Saturday. In-form James Prentice scored two and set up striking partner Allan Blair for a goal in a one-sided first half, as Paisley struggled to cope with the home side’s attacking play.

Prentice almost scored what would have been goal of the season with a brilliant run, but the finish was just off target.

His second goal, which lobbed the keeper, made it 3-1 and was an excellent finish. Blair missed a good chance to score again while Paisley fired just wide at 1-1 when Tarbert failed to clear a through ball.

The visitors looked out of it but scored two goals out of nothing in the second half to make the score 3-3. James Smythe put the West Loch Shores/Islay Frigate Hotel sponsored side 4-3 up with a close range volley before subs David Simpson and Ian Johnson both scored to make the final score 6-3.

Tarbert faced Hamilton FP (B) for a place in the semi finals of the coronation cup on sunday, a feat many of their young squad had not experienced before.

The home side were full of determination in the early stages, forcing a string of fine saves from the away keeper, and just as the dookers began to get a bit edgy, they were awarded a penalty after 30 minutes when Tits was hacked down in the box. Up stepped Prentice who cooly sent the keeper the wrong way.

Tarbert were soon 2 up when Johnson raced away from Hamiltons defence, scoring from 6 yards. The dookers went into overdrive at this point, ending the half four nil up after a fine finish in off the post from Guy, and another screamer from Prentice, this time with the left peg. HT 4-0.

The second period continued much the same way, with Tarbert passing the ball around to great effect. Prentice finished off the hat-trick before Guy headed in his second of the game with a bullet. JoJo freshened things up with Johnson, Guy and Miller being replaced with AJ, Mcdougall and Blair, the latter missing a great chance to make it seven. The final goal arrived after 80 minutes, again the creator was Prentice, causing the defender to score an o.g. FT 7-0. Tarbert now play Inverkip in the semis on Sunday 11th of May.

Tarbert Travelled to Shawlands on the 3rd of May desperate to make up for the dissapointing way they had surrendered 3 points the week before against St Pats. The Dookers could not have made a better start when after only 2 minutes the blistering pace of James 'Coco' Prentice allowed him to beat two defenders before cooly slotting past the home keeper. Some slack play shortly after this however resulted in Shawlands taking a 3-1 lead, much to the dismay of JoJo at the side of the park. Tarbert then got themselves back in the game shortly before half time when goal machine/Gaffer Douglas Guy scored from a sweetly struck half volley. HT 3-2.

Tarbert were given a stern talking to from the management at the interval, however this did not seem to lift the dookers, who fell 4-2 behind after 60 minutes. Some desperate attemps to get a goal back saw Prentice hit the bar from 25 yards, before Malcolm 'Tits' Maciver headed onto the post shortly after.

The game was put beyond all doubt in the closing stages when Shawlands went 5-2, rounding off an extremely poor day for the dookers, who stay in 6th place in division 1.

Goals from Iain Mckay and player/manager Douglas Guy saw Tarbert pick up another win at Cil Andreis on saturday.

Despite missing several key players through injury, and top scorer James Prentice suspended, the West loch shores and Islay Frigate sponsored side produced a determined display to beat the visiting team from Stepps.

The deadlock was broken on 15 minutes when Mckay fired low into the net from close range after the ball broke to him just inside the box. That lead did not last long as slackness allowed Cambria to equalise after a cross to the far post was thumped home by an unmarked attacker.

Guy then missed a decent oppertunity after a defensive mix up but he made up for it with a great header from Ronalds free kick on 25 minutes which proved to be the winner. Craig Martin was in fine form against his former side, almost making it 3-1 with a header.

Youngsters Mciver and Simpson were given a run out as Tarbert looked to score a third goal. FT 2-1.

A goal in each half by Michael Connor clinched another three points for Tarbert at Cil Andreis on Saturday. Despite losing an early goal the West Loch Shores sponsored side gradually worked their way back into the game, equalising when Prentices shot hit the crossbar, allowing Mcdougall to set up Connor.

Prentice then almost scored soon after with a low drive. Rosehill from Glasgow were breaking in numbers but Tarberts defence were determined not to lose another goal. Assistant manager JoJo wanted more dig from Tarbert in the second half.

The winning goal arrived on 55 minutes when Connor found the net following a good build up. The visitors had the bulk of posession after the goal, winning several corners which came to nothing.

Substitute Sprocket almost tied the game up late on, and Prentice went just wide from a well hit free kick.

Iain Mckay played superbly at centre half, with full backs Iain Smith and Alan Miller in good form. On a heavy pitch, Tarbert were relieved to hear the referees final whistle, maintaining their unbeaten run in 2008.

The Islay Frigate Hotel/ West Loch Shores sponsored side played into a strong wind first half and took time to settle.

Rosehill hit the post but Tarbert also created chances.

Rune Anderson put a close range effort over the bar and James Prentice forced a good save from the home keeper.

The deadlock was broken on 30 minutes when Rosehill scored direct from a disputed free kick 20 yards out.

Five minutes later Tarbert equalised when Guy followed up a good run and shot by Prentice to tap home.

The second half was quite scrappy with few chances. The hosts re-took the lead with a headed goal on the hour but Prentice got the goal his overall play deserved when he scored his eleventh goal of the campaign.

The final 10 minutes saw Rosehill play with nine men when referee Smith sent two players off but it was Tarbert who nearly conceded a third but John Martin saved well.

Despite not at their best, Tarbert battled well on a tight and bumpy park to go four games unbeaten.

They duly delivered with a convincing 3-1 victory over bottom-placed Port Glasgow. After a first half of numerous chances for the away side the message from assistant manager Jonathan Scott and waterboy Alexander Johnstone was to produce more of the same in the second half.

The Dookers carried on in the same fashion and got their reward when James Prentice was illegally challenged in the box and up stepped Nikki MacDougall to coolly slot home the penalty.

The Tarbert defence coped well with what little pressure they were put under and Port Glasgow were forced to stop Tarbert attacks by any means neccessary resulting in five yellow cards for the home side.

Despite some brutal challenges James Prentice continued to torment the Port Glasgow defence and got his reward with a well-deserved brace to put the Dookers three up.

Port Glasgow grabbed a consolation late-on when they sprung the offside trap.

The Port Glasgow striker bravely won the ball from the on-rushing John Martin to tap the ball in.

After the match, player/manager Douglas Guy said: ‘The boys were terrific today.

‘On the way here today we stopped in to visit Andrew McMillan at Merchiston Hospital. ‘Andrew was just starting to force his way into the team last year when he suffered severe head injuries in a car accident. We have been to visit him a few times but today the boys were really inspired by his progress.’

He added: ‘We have a lot of games still to play this season.’

Tarbert served their intentions straight from kick-off when captain Duncan MacDougall thumped a great effort against the crossbar. Soon after, a fine flick by Agosti found Prentice who clinically beat the Kings’ keeper. 1-0

Kings were useful going forward and levelled the scoring on 15 minutes. A shot deflected into the path of a Kings’ player, who dispatched the ball past John Martin. 1-1

The visitors had a good spell after their goal, putting pressure on from set-pieces. Laing blocked a goal-bound shot and Alan Miller made a timely interception.

Tarbert restored their lead on thirty minutes. MacDougall’s header over Kings’ defence enabled Nikki to lob the keeper, making it 2-1.

Soon after it was 3-1 when a ball over the top caused confusion with Prentice cashing in, rounding the keeper to score.

Martin kept his side two goals in front with a brave save. On the break, Dougie Guy’s fine pass saw Nikki cut inside and drill Tarbert’s fourth, just before half time.

Assistant manager Scott urged for a repeat second-half show; a request which got off to a good start when Guy’s fine run was rewarded with a goal, making it 5-1.

Kings kept going to the end but they only scored once despite having the majority of possession. Their number nine knocked one in with 25 minutes to play.

Prentice almost completed his hat-trick with two good efforts, as did McDougall, and young Ian Smith had a fine game at full-back before being replaced by James Smythe on 70 minutes.

Agosti and Guy made way for fresh legs late on with Keith Harris and AJ getting some action.

Referee Seymour sent off Kings’ number nine for dissent in the closing minutes of play, with Tarbert content to win and gain revenge for their defeat in Glasgow early in the season.

John Martin, deputising for Hawthorn in goals did well to keep out a cross heading for the net from a rare effort by Port.

Referee Scott cautioned three players in a tough first half. Playing into the wind second half seemed to suit Tarbert as they finally made their dominance count with three excellent goals.

David Ronald broke the deadlock on 60 minutes with a low drive after Laing set him up. Port smashed a cracker Martin to equalise ten minutes later with a goal which rattled the local side until they took the lead again.

Ronald’s quick throw-in to captain Ian Johnson was well executed into the top corner for 2-1.

Substitute Agosti should have scored when clean through and Port’s keeper pulled off good saves from Tarbert’s strikers as the pressure continued. Port’s crossbar was hit during an attempted clearance before James Prentice settled any nerves with a great turn and shot – his fifth goal of the season. 3-1.

Match day 3 saw another disappointing result for Tarbert, but overall the performance had positives too. The match began spritely with Tarbert attacking and putting on some early pressure. Iainy fish put the home defence under pressure and a poor clearance allowed big alby to attempt an audacious lob from 35 yards that had the keeper all out to prevent the opener. A sloppy back pass allowed the big man to nearly nip in and steal a toe poke but it went wide. Heartache followed as KPR struck a long ball special and scored a sloppy opener. Worse followed as Fish missed a chance and KPR scored from yet another long ball. 2 - 0 at half time and a long way back. The 2nd half started brightly and a mazy run from Fish and an effort that went out nearly for a throw in. Good play down the left hand side allowed another chance for Finn at the back post but he was up ended and a penalty was awarded. The spot kick was a tame effort however and saved easily. To compile the misery KPR then took a 3 - 0 lead. More chances followed for Tarbert from a Nikki free kick, another for Blair and also 3 good chances for the big Finn. Sprocko also had an effort off the post ! ! Tarberts consolation came very late from TT with a header judged to be over the line (was it - time for a poll). 3 - 1 final score!

Tarbert looked to consolidate their early season win with another good showing at home to the best side in the league. However, after showing well in the opening quarter of the game, St Pats began to dominate. Only one down at half time it was all to play for, but in fifteen destructive second half minutes the score was soon 5-0 and Tarbert’s defence looked crushed! The last fifteen saw Tarbert and St Pats create further chances with the only one being converted as Coco’s blunderbuss from 20 yards into the top bag!! Hopefully next week away to King’s park will have more positive talking points!!

On Saturday 25^th August 2007, Tarbert travelled to Paisley for their season opener against newly promoted champions Carlton YM. The game started at a good pace with the home team pressing and causing Tarbert to make a few mistakes. Carlton took the lead on the quarter hour mark after poor marking allowed a free header to find the back of the net. Carlton tried to extend their lead and but for a great save from Haddock in goal and a goal line clearance from Sprocket, they would have. This was to prove crucial as a Coco shot just into the 2^nd half produced a save from the home keeper, allowing Keith Harris to tap in a rebound, for, by his standards, a long range strike! This spurred Tarbert on but they could not nail the advantage. On the hour mark the new manager Dugay gave a way a soft penalty which was again magically saved by the big cod supper in goals.

From then on it was a one way ticket to three points for Tarbert as Big Dugay scored his first of the season and last year’s top scorer also opened his account (that’s big cocs for all the ones not ‘in the know’) That made the score 3-1 and but for dogged defending and lacklustre finishing the score could have been extended. The last ten minutes only produced one major talking point as big alby went on a mazy run and squirmed past four Carlton players to get into the box and unselfishly set up a team mate to squander the chance (no names).

Oh and almost forgot the early season contender for miss of the season from Sprocko in the first half. Did anyone forget?

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