Lochbroom brush aside weekend defeat to take spoils in west coast derby
Lochbroom claimed the bragging rights in the west coast derby last night with a 5-3 victory over their north-west Sutherland neighbours Lochinver.
In front of a big crowd at Ullapool High School, it was actually the visitors, Lochinver, who took the lead through Clarke Hutchinson in the early going before Shaun Marshall levelled to make it 1-1.
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But Hutchinson struck again moments before half-time to claim the advantage for his side at the break.
The sides exchanged further goals at the start of the second period, Lochbroom initially restoring parity with a goal from the departing Skip Buckthorp, but Jake Lockett was first to the ball in a goalmouth scramble to restore Lochinver’s advantage.
The game was turned on its head on the hour mark when Kyle Mackenzie brought the scores to 3-3, rounding the goalkeeper to tap the ball into the net.
For the first time in the game, Lochbroom took the lead just moments later when Mackenzie grabbed his second, sending the home support into a frenzy.
An impressive turnaround from Lochbroom was punctuated when Marshall broke clear to net his second of the evening.
Nearer the top of the table, Golspie Stafford remain the only unbeaten team across North-west Sutherland competitions, after beating league rivals Tain Thistle 3-1 at Stafford Park.
Callum Murray got the Tain Jags off to a great start early on in the game, getting on the end of a knockdown from Scott MacDonald to make it 1-0.
The Golspie men thought they had levelled but their net-bound effort was disallowed for handball.
The equaliser was delayed only temporarily through as a penalty award saw Louis Macpherson convert from 12 yards to make it 1-1.
It was honours even at half-time, but the game quickly swung in the home side’s favour after the restart, James Macrae putting his side into the lead on 51 minutes.
A second penalty award for Golspie with 15 minutes remaining was saved by Steven Martin, extending Thistle’s hopes of snatching an equaliser.
With less than five minutes remaining, Golspie made sure of their victory with a well taken header from Alexander Mackay.
At Couper Park, Helmsdale United were in uncompromising form against visitors Embo, netting nine goals with one in reply.
Hat-tricks for Austin Keith and Paul Gordon were the highlight, with a penalty from Kevin Cairns extending the total.
Youngsters CJ Farrell and Ally Macrae were also among the scorers, netting their first goals for the club.
In the other game of the evening, Inver were awarded three points and a 3-0 win after Brora Wanderers failed to raise a team. The walkover win sends the Easter Ross side to the top of the division, with 15 points on the board.
On Saturday, Brora Wanderers and Helmsdale United shared the spoils in a 3-3 draw at School Park.
A Luke Ainsworth hat-trick earned his side their first point of the side, up against goals from Danny Doogan and Kevin Cairns, who scored two.
As is customary each season, the George Cormack Memorial Trophy was contested between the sides and with the teams finishing level, a penalty shoot-out was held post-match, which Helmsdale won 4-3.
At the Links, Tain Thistle made short work of Lochbroom in a 6-1 win.
There were goals scored all round the team with Liam Rostock, Scott MacDonald, Callum Murray and Sam Ross all on the mark, and Billy Knox notching a brace.
Kyle Maclean scored the only goal for the Ullapool eleven.
Post-match, the Kenny Raigie Memorial Trophy was presented to Tain Jags captain Alan Duff.
Further north, Melvich succumbed to a 5-0 beating at the hands of Inver.
Despite a close first half which saw Inver lead 1-0 at the break, the Easter Ross men moved things up a gear in the second period.
Alex Mackenzie hit a hat-trick, while Johnie Beattie and Stuart Nicol also registered their names on the scoresheet.
League fixtures for Saturday, June 15:
Brora Wanderers v Lairg Rovers
League fixtures for Tuesday, June 18:
Tain Thistle v Lochinver
Melvich v Brora Wanderers
