The blustery weather meant that any football played above head height became a lottery and both sides took some time to adapt to the conditions. However, in 15 minutes Breadalbane worked out that keeping the ball on the ground might be a more sensible option. The little and large strikeforce of da Silva and Jacobs combined with a neat one-two, that saw da Silva slide home a tidy finish.

An Alyth side clearly lacking in confidence left themselves with a mountain to climb just minutes later. Yet another tempting cross from Carr was met by fellow school pupil Rory Cromb. The youngster got a fortunate break of the ball and was able to finish at the second attempt. If this wasn’t bad enough for the visitors, though, their full back was given his marching orders in the immediate aftermath for taking his protestations over a handball a few expletives too far. He may well have had a valid argument, but having his side reduced to ten men so early in the game was perhaps not the most sensible course of action.

Shortly after, Lee Veitch killed the match off as a contest, waltzing into the box and picking out a clever finish in a congested area.

Despite the grim task facing them, Alyth did manage to capitalise on some uncertainty in the home defence just before the break. A back post cross found its way to the lively Alyth striker who looped a clever header past Menzies to reduce the deficit.

However, with the wind at their backs in the second half, the game became a procession towards the Alyth goalmouth. Jacobs won a race to the ball with the Alyth centre-half, but his effort was well saved by the visiting keeper. Da Silva, though, was again on hand to head the rebound into an empty net and restore a three goal lead.

With the result beyond all doubt, manager Robertson was able to give some of his returning squad members a decent run out. And it was one of them who was to bag the next goal. Bursting in from the right flank, Macaskill’s left foot effort flew into the bottom corner and the bizarrely barneted youngster celebrated his first goal for the club.

Finally, with minutes remaining, da Silva once again outstripped the away defence and rounded the keeper to complete his hat-trick. Or so he thought. The big keeper had other ideas and his late challenge left the striker sprawling with the goal at his mercy. A red card was the only option for the referee and a free kick 20 yards out was awarded. This has become Chucky Carr territory of late, and the ginger maestro was not about to disappoint. The stand-in goalkeeper’s first sighting of his effort was as it bounced back past him out of the net.

Given the conditions, this has to go down as a satisfactory performance for a Breadalbane side who have been knocked sideways a wee bit in the last couple of weeks. With players returning, however, they look forward to the remainder of the season with renewed confidence

Breadalbane:
Menzies, MacDougall, McAdam (Dewar), Thomas, Smith, Cromb (Macaskill), Veitch, I Robertson, Carr, Jacobs (Laing), da Silva

Subs (not used): Jamieson, C Price