Coles scores double but Ross and Cromarty go down to defeat in Caithness
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Ross and Cromarty ended up on the losing side 5–2 in their Highlands and Islands League match against Caithness last weekend.
At Caithness’ new home of Castletown, the hosts saw Carly Erridge score a hat-trick and Kerrie Martin chip in with a double.
That put the points out of reach for the 2023 league newcomers, who did at least see prolific scorer Simone Coles claim a brace of her own in response.
The big victory of the day, though, went to Clachnacuddin, thanks in no small part to a remarkable feat of goalscoring from Nicky Michie-Macdonald.
The Lilywhites won 9-0 against Brora Rangers, with Michie-Macdonald scoring five in the first half alone.
Hannah Willis would make it six after the restart with her first goal for the club, before Michie-Macdonald added two more to bring her own personal tally for the afternoon to seven.
Clach were not done there, though, as Becca Smith added one final strike to put the Grant Street Park side on cloud nine.
The dominant display brought about their first competitive win of 2023, and with the goal difference boost it was also enough to move them up and into the top half of the league table at this early stage of the campaign.
Orkney came closing to matching Clach’s tally at Nairn.
Abi Coltherd led the way for the islanders, scoring four. Gemma Montgomery added two to the tally, with Katie Rafferty and Karen Jarvie-Fisher scoring one apiece to make it eight.
In response, Nairn could only muster up a single strike, with the score 8-1 to Orkney when the final whistle went.
In a battle of two title contenders, defending champions Buckie picked up what could prove to be an important win over Sutherland.
It was the closest tie of the weekend, though, ending 2-1 with Buckie’s goals coming from Lornay Young and Emily McAuslan.
This weekend’s fixture list is a patchy one, with Ross and Cromarty now sitting inactive until the middle of next month.
Clach will return to action, though, hosting Orkney, while Nairn are due to be at their Showfield home against Sutherland on Sunday.
