Source: FOOTYMAD
Ross County 2 Queen of the South 0
The team that lifted the Alba Cup and deservely so. They were the only team who played any football and right from the off. Ross County deservedly won the Alba Cup final in Perth today and Queen of the South got what they deserved for their performance. At no time did Queens look like the side they have been this season. Perhaps they wanted the game to have been played on the original date in November when the weather put paid to the tie. They obviously did not enjoy their day in the sun. The Staggies' goals were scored by Andrew Barrowman and Iain Vigurs but you could have given the first goal to the Doonhamers' keeper, David Hutton. For some bizarre reason, with nobody within 18 yards of him apart from the advancing Barrowman, he decided to deal with a pass back by trying to beat the number nine for ball-skills. No contest and Barrowman took the ball off the struggling 'keeper and stroked the ball into the net. Barrowman and Michael Gardyne were thorns in the Queens side all day. They ball inevitably ended up at one or either of their feet when pushed forward and the both knew that if they had the ball the other would be making a pass option available for them which would be a goal threat. They even combined well to enable Vigurs to score his goal. Pass from Barrowman to Gardyne out on the right, Barrowman runs in to just take the speed of the ball from Gardyne's cross for Vigurs to stroke the ball home seven minutes before half-time. Kenny Brannigan was stalking the technical area for most of the first-half but to no avail. I did not notice his presence so much in the second half. His voice was gone in the post-game press conference and he was drained with frustration after his team left their ability in the dressing room. Jimmy Calderwood was at pains to point out that he felt like an imposter for seeing his side lift a trophy as the final place was won under Derek Adams guidance. He pretty well dedicated the win to Adams. However, he was going to enjoy the celebrations to follow picking up his first trophy of his managerial career.
