WATCH: St Duthus boss John Maclellan delighted with ‘unlucky’ side after ‘big win’ in Orkney
St Duthus manager John Maclellan hailed victory in Orkney as a “big win” for his side, as the Tain club recorded their second league win of the season.
A goal in each half was enough for the visitors despite a late sending off and penalty award, earning three points to move above Thurso in the North Caledonian League table.
The win for Saints was a return in favour, having lost 7-1 to Orkney earlier in the season - one of four losses Maclellan’s side have suffered so far - but manager Maclellan believes his side have been “unlucky” not to win more points.
“We were all delighted to come back down the road with three points,” he said. “It was a cracking game to watch with the two sides giving it a go.
“I was really pleased with our physicality and game management. Every player knew their role in our system and gave their all.
“To get a win away at such a difficult venue is something we can take a lot of confidence from. Every fixture in this league is tough in its own way, so we just take it a game at a time.
“We’ve been unlucky the last couple of weeks not to pick up points, so it feels like a big win for us.”
The action went from end-to-end at a blustery KGS Sports Centre in Kirkwall before the deadlock was broken from a set piece.
It was St Duthus took the lead when an inviting ball into the box from captain Jamie Skinner was met by the on-rushing Scott MacDonald who slotted past Liam Valentine to make it 1-0.
The Tain men doubled their advantage nine minutes into the second half when a clearance down the line was intercepted by Neil Moir, who laid the ball into the path of Kaden Irvine 25 yards from goal.
Acting on an inspired call from the touchline, the midfielder found the net with a speculative shot which flew in through the grasp of Valentine.
The afternoon was going without a hitch for the visitors until the 90th minute when substitute Robbie Allan, who had only been introduced eight minutes earlier, was dismissed following a verbal exchange with referee Raymond Rendall.
Saints’ resilience was halted three minutes into injury time when the whistle blew for a foul on Orkney forward Liam Delday.
Penalty taker Aiden Drever was immediately thwarted by the crossbar, but the ball cannoned back into a busy eighteen yard box, and Saints couldn’t prevent it falling to Toby Macleod who found the far corner with a shot from six yards out.
A nervy last minute of added time followed for the visitors before the final whistle blew, met with a jubilant roar from the visiting dugout.
Orkney: Valentine, S Hellewell, Simpson (Vendy 67), Kirkness, G Scott (Paterson 92), A Drever, Dowell, T Scott (Tulloch 67), J Scott, Macleod, Delday. Not used: Poke (GK), Wilson, Hourston, Baillie
St Duthus: J Allan, A Allan, L Wardrop, Irvine (Wilson 62), J Skinner, Macpherson, Voigt, J Wardrop, MacDonald (R Allan 82), As-Chainey (K Mackenzie 68). Not used: Khan (GK), Maclellan
Maclellan’s focus now shifts to a home game - just the third of the season for his side, against bottom placed Bunillidh Thistle.
The meeting will be the first between the sides in Tain since 2019.
“We’re looking forward to a good week of training before our next game against Bunillidh,” he added. “It is great to see Dean (Cowie) getting them going again, so well done to him.
“It’ll be a tough one for us, as all games in this league are, so it will be great to see as many people of Tain as possible at the game.”
