Tain boss Maclellan ‘taking nothing for granted’ ahead of potential title clincher
Just one point will be enough for Tain Thistle to secure the North-west Sutherland amateur league championship tomorrow, as they travel to Culag Park in search of a performance to get them “over the line”.
The Tain Jags sit top of the league table with 30 points and two games remaining, three points ahead of Golspie Stafford, who have just one game left to play next weekend.
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Team manager John Maclellan said: “We anticipate a tough game with Lochinver, as we always do. They have a number of players who can hurt any team in the league, and we won’t be taking anything for granted.
“That said, it’s a massive opportunity for us to go out and grab a reward for all of our hard work this season. Whatever happens, I’m proud of this group of boys. I’d be absolutely delighted if we were able to go ahead and clinch the league title.
“Some of the football that we’ve played throughout the season has been fantastic, and we have also had to come through some tough scenarios, with big questions asked of us mentally and physically, but we’ve come through them to get to where we are and I now just want to see us get over the line.”
Anything other than a defeat will secure the championship for the Tain side on Saturday, but a loss may only delay the inevitable, with the Jags boasting a +40 goal difference, compared to Stafford’s +28.
Results in the final two games would require back-to-back defeats for the Easter Ross side and a 13-goal swing if defending champions Stafford are to retain the league championship.
Thistle edged ever closer to the title with a 3-1 win over Lochbroom in Ullapool last Saturday.
A confident display saw them take an early two-goal advantage with goals from Liam Rostock and Scott MacDonald before Ben Bruce halved the deficit.
The result was put beyond doubt in the second half when Tain defender Adam Allan found the net with an impressive long-range low drive.
At Culag Park, Golspie Stafford kept the pressure on Thistle with an 8-3 win over Lochinver.
Robbie Murray, who has now netted 25 goals in all north-west competitions, grabbed four goals in the rout, with George Jones (2), Cameron Sutherland and Robbie Sutherland also putting their names on the scoresheet.
In reply, Andrew Simpson, Ally Macleod and Gary Fisher each found the net for the hosts.
Luke Ainsworth took the plaudits for a hat-trick at Ferrycroft Park as League 2 contenders Brora Wanderers overcame Lairg Rovers in a 4-2 win.
A goal from Lucas Sayers added to the scoring, with Shadi Ali and Callum Donaldson notching in response for Rovers.
There was cause for celebration in Embo, as the team returned from Melvich with a 2-0 win and clean sheet.
David Bell, the Back Park side’s top marksman this season, bagged both goals in a close fought affair, with midfield man Jordan Macleod highlighted by the club for a “man of the match” performance.
Brora Wanderers and Helmsdale United now sit neck-and-neck on six points each in League 2, scheduled to face off at Couper Park tomorrow.
Tomorrow’s games:
League Championship
Lochinver v Tain Thistle (1pm)
Inver v Lochbroom (3pm)
League 2
Embo v Lairg Rovers (1pm)
Helmsdale United v Brora Wanderers (2pm)
Top scorers (in all NWS competitions):
1. Robbie Murray (Golspie) – 25
2. Alexander Mackay (Golspie) – 17
3. Jake Lockett (Lochinver) – 16
4. Scott MacDonald (Tain) – 15
5. Alex Mackenzie (Inver) – 13
6. Adrian Voigt (Tain) – 12
7. Kevin Cairns (Helmsdale) – 10
8. David Bell (Embo) – 9
= Kyle Mackenzie (Lochbroom) – 9
10. Luke Ainsworth (Brora) – 8
= Gary Fisher (Lochinver) – 8
