Ruthwell in Sixes Triumph

The Soccer Sixes took place at Queen of the South Arena on Sunday, and defending champions Palmerston Colts kicked off in style as they won all four of their group games, scoring 26 goals and conceding only two to progress to the semi finals. Annan Town bounced back from an opening game defeat to the Colts to win their next two, while Dumfries Athletic also lost to Colts and beat Crichton Campus and Normandy to set up a final group game with Annan where the sides proved too close to split and shared four goals. Normandy Star consigned Crichton to the bottom of the section as they won their only game. Group B was even tighter, with Nithside setting the early pace with a win over Ruthwell and also beating Riverside, Morton also beat Riverside while Ruthwell picked up a point in a draw with Scaur who then also drew with Morton. Ruthwell and Scaur picked up wins against Riverside and Morton threw the group wide open by beating Nithside. Ruthwell then beat Morton to ensure both sides would progress to the quarter finals leaving Nithside and Scaur to play knowing the winners would top the group while the losers would crash out, and it was Scaur who triumphed. Morton lost out to Annan in the quarters while Ruthwell squeezed past Dumfries with a 2-1 win, winning through to face Palmerston in the semis in a tight match which was decided by a single goal two minutes from time sending Ruthwell to the final. Scaur were more dominant in the other Semi final, seeing off Annan 3-0. Having drawn in the group stage the final was always going to be close. And a fine performance by the Ruthwell keeper, as in the Semi, kept Scaur at bay, while quick counter attacks saw them grab two clinical goals as Ruthwell Rovers were crowned 2019 Soccer Sixes Champions.