Alness youngsters record big win over league leaders in under-18 north title race
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Highland League under-18 north champions Alness United kept their hopes of retaining their title alive with a big win at the home of league leaders Balloan on Sunday.
The Easter Ross contenders humbled their Inverness hosts with a goal right on the stroke of half-time when David Murray bagged his first goal of the season.
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A corner delivered into the box was met by Murray who hit a half-volley to beat Balloan custodian Harvey Fitzgerald.
United made it 2-0 on the hour mark when Reece Wilson ran at the defence before firing at goal from 20 yards, foxing Fitzgerald with a shot that crept between the goalkeeper's legs.
The victory narrowed the gap between Alness and Balloan at the top of the table to seven points, with United having played two games less.
At Millburn Academy, Dingwall threw away a first half lead to eventually lose 5-2.
Home side Inverness Athletic took the lead through Kieran Goddard after 12 minutes, but a quickfire double five minutes later saw Dingwall turn the game on its head.
A Craig Lawrie equaliser was followed by a goal from Ryan Macnamara as the game swung in the Ross-shire side's favour.
A Ross Cooper goal on 26 minutes then drew the sides level.
If the first period was an even affair, the second certainly wasn't. Netting his second goal four minutes into the half, Goddard made it 3-2, and on 61 minutes, Cooper bagged a brace of his own to take the Inverness tally to four.
Substitute Callum Scott rounded off the scoring with a fifth for Athletic.
Elsewhere in the division, Nairn County put three goals past their neighbours Forres Mechanics. Josh Stephenson opened the scoring after just three minutes before adding a second seven minutes before the interval.
Jack MacCormack wrapped up the win three minutes after the restart.
In other games, Rothes recorded an impressive 5-2 away win over Keith, while North West Skye succumbed to a 2-0 defeat at home to Lossiemouth.
The weekend meeting between Wick Academy and Clachnacuddin was postponed.
Fixtures for Sunday, February 18:
Clachnacuddin v Alness United
Dingwall v Nairn County
Forres Mechanics v Lossiemouth
Inverness Athletic v North West Skye
Keith v Balloan
Rothes v Wick Academy
