Clachnacuddin

The second half of the season opened with the Annual New Year’s Day Derby with old rivals Caledonian. This year Clach hosted the long-standing fixture.

Thursday 1st January 1948 – Grant Street Park, Inverness

Clachnacuddin 1  Caledonian 1

Clach were at full strength.  Caley fielded a mainly reserve side with many regulars missing, perhaps still recovering from the previous night’s celebrations.  On a slippery pitch Caley adapted better to the conditions than an off-colour Clach.  The visitors fully deserved to go ahead with a goal by Campbell after 44 minutes.  Clach made numerous attacks after the interval but none that could be deemed as dangerous.  Caley probably would have won except that Tommy Rooney, who had played brilliantly, sliced the ball into his own net in the last minute of the game.

Clach Team -        MacDougall;  Hazle;  Mackay;  Baxter (Captain);  MacLean;  Kane;  MacKenzie;  Siegel;  Pines;  Bartlett;  W Jamieson

Caley Team -        Mapplebeck;  MacGillivray;  W J MacKintosh;  R MacKintosh;  Urquhart;  Rooney;  Campbell;  S Fraser;  D MacKintosh;  MacPherson;  E Fraser

Clach Scorer        Rooney (o.g.)

Saturday 3rd January 1948 – Grant Street Park, Inverness

Clachnacuddin 4  Inverness Thistle 2

Clach avenged December’s defeat.  It was a tousy game with many petty fouls and some personal vendettas.  Clach had a comfortable 4 – 1 lead at half-time.  MacLennan scored for Thistle with a header just before the interval.  The Jags came more into the game in the second period but could not break down the Clach defence until near the end when MacLennan again netted for the visitors.

Clach Team -        MacDougall;  Hazle;  MacKay;  Baxter (Captain);  MacLean;  Kane;  MacKenzie;  Siegel;  Pines;  Wemyss;  W Jamieson

I T Team -        MacDonald;  Calder;  Carr;  Sinclair;  Urquhart;  MacAulay;  Gordon;  Fraser;  MacLennan;  Owens;  Gamble

Clach Scorers    W Jamieson 2,  Hazle (pen),  Wemyss
Referee    Mr D J MacLean, Bucksburn

Saturday 10 January 1948 – Kynoch Park, Keith

Clachnacuddin 3  Keith 2

On a frost-bound pitch Clach were twice in arrears before they scored the winning goal near the end of the match.  Clach had more of the game but Keith’s clever forwards proved a hot handful.  Boyd scored for Keith for the only goal of the first period.  Not long after the interval Hazle of Clach had his penalty kick palmed out by the Keith goalkeeper but he followed up to net the rebound.  Forsyth restored Keith’s lead.  Siegel brought Clach once more on level terms with a header.  That man Pines again popped up three minutes from time to score the winner for Clach.

Clach Team -        MacDougall;  Hazle;  MacKay;  Baxter (Captain);  MacLean;  Kane;  MacKenzie;  Siegel;  Pines;  Wemyss;  W Jamieson

Clach Scorers    Hazle, Siegel, Pines

Saturday 24th January 1948

Clach were due to travel to play Deveronvale at Banff but match was off as ground was frost-bound.

Saturday 31st January 1948 – Grant Park, Lossiemouth

Clachnacuddin 4  R.A.F. Kinloss 0

A commanding second half display by Clach.  The Inverness side lead 1 – 0 at half-time through MacKenzie.  After the interval MacKenzie completed his hat-trick and Pines added his side’s fourth.  Clach were never really stretched.

Clach Team -        MacDougall; Hazle;  MacKay;  Baxter (Captain);  MacLean;  Kane;  MacKenzie;  Siegel;  Pines;  Bartlett;  W Jamieson

Clach Scorers    MacKenzie 3, Pines

Saturday 7th January 1948 – Grant Street Park, Inverness

Clachnacuddin 10  R.A.F. Kinloss 0

Fielding an unchanged team Clach overwhelmed the airmen.  Leading 4 – 0 at half-time through Baxter; Pines 2; Siegel, they added six more in the second half with three from Pines, two from Jamieson and one from MacKenzie.  A weak R.A.F. defence proved no match for the rampant Clach forwards.

Clach Team -        MacDougall;  Hazle;  MacKay;  Baxter (Captain);  MacLean;  Kane;  MacKenzie;  Siegel;  Pines;  Bartlett;  Jamieson

Clach Scorers    Pines 5,  Jamieson 2,  Baxter, Siegel, MacKenzie

Saturday 28th February 1948 – Grant Street Park, Inverness

Clachnacuddin 6  Deveronvale 0

Again fielding an unchanged team Clach had little difficulty in beating the team from Banff.  They led 3 – 0 at half-time and took their tally to six with no reply by the end of the game.

Clach Team -        MacDougall;  Hazle;  MacKay;  Baxter (Captain);  MacLean;  Kane;  MacKenzie;  Siegel;  Pines;  Bartlett;  W Jamieson

Clach Scorers    Pines (another hat trick) 3,  Baxter,  Kane,  MacKenzie

Saturday 13th March 1948 – Grant Street Park, Inverness

Clachnacuddin 7  Nairn County 0

Clach only had a 1 – 0 lead at half-time through a goal by Siegel after being well held by the Wee County.  After the interval with shots raining in on the visitor’s goal the floodgates opened and goals from Pines, another hat-trick, Hazle with a penalty and two from Bartlett and ended up with an easy win for Clach.

Clach Team -        MacDougall;  Hazle;  MacKay;  Baxter (Captain);  MacLean;  Kane;  MacKenzie;  Siegel; Pines;  Bartlett;  W Jamieson

Clach Scorers    Siegel,  Pines 3,  Hazle (pen),  Bartlett 2

Saturday 20th March 1948- Bellsea Park, Fraserburgh

Clachnacuddin 2  Fraserburgh 2

Fraserburgh defended for most of the game relying mainly on counter attacks.  Clach just managed to salvage a point in the last minute of the game with a soft penalty for hands scored by Hazle.  Earlier Davidson of Fraserburgh opened the scoring shortly after the start of the game.  Baxter equalised twenty minutes later.  In the second half, against the run of play, Grieve restored Fraserburgh’s lead, smashing a great shot past MacDougall before Hazle’s last gasp equaliser.  The disappointment of losing a point was somewhat tempered when it was heard that Caley had defeated closest rivals Peterhead 2 – 1 at Telford Street, Inverness.

Clach Team -        MacDougall;  Hazle;  Mackay;  Baxter (Captain);  MacLean;  Kane;  MacKenzie;  Siegel;  Pines:  Bartlett;  Jamieson

Clach Scorers    Baxter, Hazle (pen)

Top of the Highland League table at the end of March:

Wednesday 31st March 1948 – Station Park, Nairn

Clachnacuddin 2  Nairn County 2

After the euphoria of their North of Scotland Cup win Clach were brought back down to earth with a bang.  Lowly Nairn played out of their skins and fully deserved a draw.  Clach were given a fright.  Siegel netted twice for the Inverness side.

Clach Team -        MacDougall;  Hazle;  MacKay;  Baxter (Captain);  MacLean;  Kane;  MacKenzie;  Siegel;  Pines;  Bartlett;  W Jamieson

Clach Scorers    Siegel 2

Saturday 3rd April 1948 – Grant Street Park, Inverness

Clachnacuddin 4  Huntly 1

Comfortable win for Caley.  They were never in trouble and two goals on either side of the interval put them in easy street.

Clach Team -        MacDougall;  Hazel;  MacKay,  Baxter (Captain);  MacLean;  Kane;  MacKenzie;  Siegel;  Pines;  Bartlett;  Jamieson

Clach Scorers    Pines 2,  Siegel 2

Saturday 6th April 1948 – Mosset Park, Forres

Clachnacuddin 1  Forres Mechanics 0

Clach earned a valuable two points in a tight encounter at Forres.  They were fortunate winners.  It was late in the second half before they snatched the decisive goal.

Clach Team -        MacDougall;  Hazle;  Wheeler;  Baxter (Captain);  MacLean;  Kane;  MacKenzie;  Siegel;  Pines;  Bartlett;  W Jamieson

Clach Scorer        MacKenzie

Saturday 10th April 1948 – Princess Royal Park, Banff

Clachnacuddin 3  Deveronvale 0

Clach had little difficulty in winning at Banff.  After twenty minutes Baxter stormed through on his own to put the Inverness side ahead.  MacDougall saved a penalty before half-time.  A few minutes after the interval Pines scored with a low volley.  Clach were well on top from then on and Jamieson put the Inverness side three up with a spectacular goal.

Clach Team -        MacDougall;  Hazle;  MacKay;  Baxter (Captain);  MacLean;  Kane;  MacKenzie;  Siegel;  Pines;  Bartlett;  W Jamieson

Clach Scorers    Baxter, Pines, Jamieson

Monday 12th April 1948 – Grant Park, Lossiemouth

Clachnacuddin 3  Lossiemouth 1

For an hour Lossie gave as good as they got.  With the score at 1 – 1 the game looked as if it was heading for a draw.  Jamieson scored a simple goal and Clach finally got a grip of the game which they never relinquished.  MacKenzie netted late on to seal a victory.

Clach Team -        MacDougall;  Hazle;  MacKay;  Baxter (Captain);  MacLean;  Kane;  MacKenzie;  Siegel;  Pines;  Bartlett;  W Jamieson

Clach Scorers    Pines,  Jamieson,  MacKenzie

Saturday 17th April 1948 – Grant Street Park, Inverness

Clachnacuddin 3  Fraserburgh 1

Clach went to the top of the Highland League for the first time in the season with their victory over the Aberdeenshire side.  The “Lilies” were the more dangerous side throughout the match.  Siegel headed in a fine cross from Kane to open the scoring.  Pines added a second before the break.  In the second half Fraser reduced the leeway for “Broch” but a couple of minutes later Siegel restored Clach’s two goal advantage.  This was a fine all round performance by the Inverness side.

Clach Team -        MacDougall;  Hazle;  MacKay;  Baxter (Captain);  MacLean;  Kane;  MacKenzie;  Siegel;  Pines;  Bartlett;  Wemyss

Clach Scorers    Siegel 2,  Pines

Wednesday 21st April 1948 – Grant Street Park, Inverness

Clachnacuddin 4  Elgin City 1

The match was a benefit game for veteran Alex “Snowball” Wemyss who was a member of Clach’s immediate pre-war Qaulifying Cup and Highland League Championship winning sides.

Clach took the lead in the first half through Pines and turned round one up.  Davies equalised for Elgin just after the interval.  However, Clach kept up their relentless barrage on the visitors’ goal.  The breakthrough did not come until after twenty minutes when Siegel netted with a low deceptive shot.  After a fine cross by MacLean was trapped by Kane who then crashed the ball high into the Elgin net from well out.

Clach Team -        MacDougall;  Hazle;  MacKay;  Baxter (Captain);  MacLean;  Kane;  MacKenzie;  Siegel;  Pines;  Bartlett;  Wemyss

Clach Scorers    Pines 2,  Siegel,  Kane

Top of the League Table

Saturday 24th April 1948 – Recreation Park, Peterhead

Clachnacuddin 1  Peterhead 3

Clach were much nearer to winning than the score suggests.  A draw would have almost assured them of the Championship.

Peterhead opened the scoring in ten minutes.  After their keeper saved a Siegel drive they broke upfield and won a corner.  The resultant kick which was perfectly placed, and aided by the wind, was headed home by MacKintosh.  Peterhead scored a second goal eight minutes later.  A lapse by the normally sure footed Clach defence was seized on by MacKintosh who gave MacDougall no chance with a well placed low drive.

Clach made all the running after that and Patty Jamieson shot against the crossbar with the keeper well beaten.  The keeper then made a superb save from MacKenzie.  Clach’ valiant fight back continued and they got their long overdue reward when Pines beat Peterhead centre-half, George Buchan, in a race for a through pass and cracked the ball into the net.

In the second half Clach threw everything into attack against a Peterhead defence well marshalled by Buchan.  It was to no avail and five minutes from time Anderson, their centre-forward, standing on the goal line in a suspiciously off-side position tapped the ball home to secure the points for the Buchan side.  Clach now required three points from their last two games, one against nearest rivals Peterhead, to secure the Championship.

Clach Team -        MacDougall;  Hazle;  MacKay;  Baxter (Captain);  MacLean;  Kane;  MacKenzie;  Siegel;  Pines;  P Jamieson;  Wemyss

Clach Scorer        Pines

Top of the League Table

Tuesday 27th April 1948 – Telford Street Park, Inverness

Clachnacuddin 2  Caledonian 0

Clach proved far too strong for Caley in a game they had to win to set up the Saturday league decider with Peterhead.  Clach never let Caley into the game and a goal in each half gave them a well merited victory.

Clach Team -        MacDougall;  Hazle;  MacKay;  Baxter (Captain);  MacLean;  Kane;  MacKenzie;  Siegel;  Pines;  Bartlett;  Wemyss

Clach Scorers    MacKenzie,  Bartlett

Peterhead defeated Rothes 1 – 0 at Peterhead on the same evening to set up the scene for Saturday’s finale.

Top of the League Table

Saturday 1st May 1948 – Grant Street Park, Inverness

Clachnacuddin 2  Peterhead 2

So here it was, the destination of the Highland League Championship came down to the last game of the season between the two leading contenders.  A magnificent title race came down to a fitting climax.  A 8,000 plus crowd saw the game played in a sporting manner with heavy rain falling throughout.

A draw was a fair result.  Clach went 2 – 1 down shortly after missing a penalty, but fought back to score a well deserved equaliser.

Clach opened strongly and after ten minutes a sweeping move saw Pines attempt an overhead kick at goal and before Hendry, the Peterhead keeper, could reach the ball up popped Siegel who smartly headed the ball into the net.  Not long afterwards Anderson scored for Peterhead after MacKay had mis-kicked.  There was nothing between the teams up to half-time.

Eight minutes after the restart Hazle had a penalty kick saved by the Peterhead goalkeeper.  Then shortly afterwards Clach were hit with a “body blow”.  Anderson put Peterhead into the lead when he shot home for his second goal after the ball rebounded from the crossbar from a drive by MacKintosh.

Chief credit for Clach’s all-important equalising goal went to Siegel.  Carrying the ball twenty-five yards he shot for goal, Hendry managed to parry the ball but Pines following up pushed the ball home.

The game then flowed backwards and forwards as both teams went all out for the winner but with no more goals the final whistle blew and Clach were crowned League Champions amongst scenes of great excitement.  All credit to Peterhead who fought all the way to retain their crown.

Clach Team -     MacDougall;  Hazle;  MacKay;  Baxter (Captain);  MacLean;  Kane;  MacKenzie;  Siegel;  Pines;  Bartlett;  Wemyss

Peterhead    Hendry;  Middleton;  A Smith;  Strachan;  G Buchan;  Cruickshank;  J
Team     Buchan;  Johnstone;  Anderson;  MacKintosh;  F Smith

Clach Scorers    Siegel,  Pines

Clach’s League record was impressive only losing three games and being undefeated at home.  Their 41 goals against was the best in the competition.

Final Highland League

There again was a remarkable number of goals scored in the League Campaign.  A total of 1310 comfortably beat the previous season’s total by nearly a hundred.  Four clubs reaching the century mark with Clach on 99 and Peterhead on 98.

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