Lochbroom boss Bruce lauds striker after midweek win over Lairg Rovers
Lochbroom manager Ben Bruce lauded the improvement of striker Kyle Mackenzie after his side secured a three-goal win over Lairg Rovers last night.
The victory at Ferrycroft Park pushes the Wester Ross club on to 15 points, joining league challengers Inver and Tain Thistle in pursuit of table toppers, Golspie Stafford.
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Forward man Mackenzie was at the double again for the Ullapool men, netting twice to put the home side to the sword, and received special praise for his performances in recent games.
Bruce said: “Our team has really started to settle in over the last four or five games. The win against Lochinver gave us a massive boost to push on this season.
“We've managed to get a couple more back involved in the squad along with the solid group of young players we have. Everything is starting to click a bit more and that's so important as a team.
“There is a much better feeling around the squad which has helped too.”
Lochbroom made the best of cold and wet conditions in Lairg, and took the lead after a shot from Bruce was saved, leaving Mackenzie to finish off the chance.
Their lead was extended when Bruce cut in from the right hand side and beat the goalkeeper with a left footed shot.
In the second half, Bruce and Mackenzie combined again, with the latter receiving a diagonal pass and firing low into the bottom corner to wrap up the win.
Mackenzie now sits on seven goals for the league campaign, just two behind chart toppers Alex Mackenzie (Inver) and Robbie Murray (Golspie) on nine.
Bruce added: “It helps when key players like Kyle are on form. He is a fantastic player who can be his own worst enemy at times. His ability on the ball and his finishing can be fantastic when he's not in his own head.
“He'll admit he could have had more than he's had over the last few games but that's a testament to him.
“He's getting in all the right positions and causing a nightmare for opposition defences. It's great to see him getting better and better.”
At Embo, Golspie Stafford extended their lead at the top of the North-west Sutherland amateur league to six points - but it wasn’t without a scare.
The Back Park side raced into a 2-0 lead early in the first half thanks to a David Bell brace.
But the strength of defending champions Golspie Stafford shone through as the game wore on.
Doubles for Alexander Mackay and Louis Macpherson, as well as goals for Robbie Murray and James Macrae saw Stafford run out 6-2 winners in the second half.
The win makes it seven for seven for the league leaders hot on the heels of their Stafford Cup win last weekend.
Weekend fixtures:
Friday, July 5th
Brora Wanderers v Lochinver (7.30pm)
Saturday, July 6th
Embo v Lochbroom (2pm)
Golspie Stafford v Lairg Rovers (1.30pm)
Helmsdale United v Inver (2pm)
Tain Thistle v Melvich (2.30pm)
