Inverness Athletic shocked by Bonar Bridge as Loch Ness put five past Clachnacuddin in North Caledonian League
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Inverness Athletic were on the wrong end of an early-season shock in the North Caledonian League, losing at home to Bonar Bridge.
Bonar Bridge have been perennial strugglers ever since returning to the North Caley fold in 2019, and may have been fearing the worst once again after losing their opening match of the season 4-0 to Fort William.
However, they roared back at Athletic's expense, winning 5-2 in North Kessock on Saturday.
Two goals in three minutes, from Robbie Breen and Alex McKenzie, midway through the first half gave Bonar Bridge the advantage, and Shadi Ali made it 3-0 before half time.
An own goal pulled one back for Athletic early in the second half, but the Sutherland side would extend their advantage – first through Bruce Urquhart's penalty and then through McKenzie's second of the afternoon.
By the time Connel Gresham scored Athletic's second in the 88th minute, then, the result had long been beyond doubt, with Bonar Bridge already matching their points tally from the entirety of last season.
Defending champions Loch Ness also scored five, but they kept a clean sheet to go with it against Clachnacuddin A.
Euan Neil opened the scoring in the 18th minute, with Luke Seago and Liam Taylor's penalty adding to the scoreline just before half time.
Although Clach could not find a way back into the contest, it did take Loch Ness until the final 10 minutes to run away with the points – Jamie Fraser and Allan MacPhee each managing to find the net.
Fort William continued their strong early-season form by winning 7-1 at home against Orkney.
Finlay MacDonald and Andrew Mclean put the former Highland League side 2-0 up at half time, only to see that advantage immediately halved upon the restart by Ewan Stevenson.
That islanders' goal did not shake Fort William's confidence, though, and they moved well clear of their opponents as the second half progressed.
First it was Martin Munro who made it 3-1 to Fort William, before David Forbes scored their fourth.
Doeimassei Muller Doguie converted back-to-back finishes, and it was left to Ayman Bouzerai to put the icing on the cake with Fort William's seventh.
The remaining match on the calender saw Alness United travel to Thurso, but they came away empty-handed.
Stan Keith had actually put Alness in front in the 12 minute, but goals from James Murray and Allan Munro turned the game on its head before the break.
Darren Sheppard then put daylight between the sides in the 70th minute, only for Craig Dryburgh to cut the deficit back to a single goal.
A final strike from Josh Sutherland did away with any nerves Thurso may have been feeling though, as they picked up their first three points of the campaign.
