Social Club too strong for Wanderers as Tain crash at Melvich
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The race for promotion from the North West Sutherland League 2 took an interesting turn on Saturday, after league leaders Tain Thistle were beaten at Melvich.
Despite taking the lead through Andrew Macleod in just ten minutes, the Jags found themselves on level pegging for the majority of the game after Kian Mackay equalised four minutes later.
The turnaround was completed when Tain succumbed to a second Melvich goal scored by Bailey Morrison just after the hour mark.
New signing Liam Smith brought Tain back into the game with 20 minutes left, but a late penalty award sent the game swinging back in Melvich's favour.
Referee Bob Gunn spotted the infringement on 75 minutes and promptly pointed to the spot, leaving Michael Smith with the task of sending Melvich back into the lead for the eventual winner.
It was a first defeat of the season for Thistle, who had ascended to the top of League 2. They now hold a slender one point advantage in first place.
At Invergordon, Social Club narrowed the gap with an emphatic win over Brora Wanderers.
Four goals for Bruce Urquhart and another from Gregor Mackay helped the Invergordon men to a 5–0 lead at the interval.
Undeterred though, the Sutherland side fought back with three goals in the second half, but they could do nothing to prevent four more strikes from Social Club through Calum Murray, Ryan Mcfee (2) and Ryan Yeaman as the match ended 9–3.
In League 1, Lochbroom had no luck at home to Golspie Stafford.
Two first half goals from Gary Pullen gave Stafford a commanding lead, and an unfortunate own goal in the second rounded off a comfortable win for the visitors.
Louis Sears was the man left with his head in his hands after steering a corner kick past his own goalkeeper to make it 3–0.
In the other League 1 match of the day, Lairg Rovers and Helmsdale United produced a 1–1 draw.
