Tain Thistle go top of League 2 with derby win over rivals Inver
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A bumper crowd gathered in Tain this past Saturday to witness the first football match to be played at the Links Playing Fields in over five years.
Basking in the sun, supporters of both clubs created a fervid derby atmosphere as Tain Thistle trumped rivals Inver to go top of North West Sutherland League 2.
The head-to-head between the teams was evenly poised with both sides having earned 10 points from their first five games.
It was the visitors who broke the deadlock after some persistent play that had seen Alex Mackenzie and Johnie Beattie both try their luck at goal. The pressure paid off when Beattie headed home, rushing into the box to connect with a corner.
But Thistle notched an equaliser when Aaron Skinner headed past Zef Ubych after Jamie Skinner had sent an inviting ball into the box.
The Tain side completed the turnaround moments later when Finn As-Chainey broke into the box and slotted past Ubych from a tight angle.
Thistle extended their lead shortly after the interval when As-Chainey grabbed his second with a first time shot, connecting with a ball from Michael Grimes.
Good work down the right hand side from Bradi Hulme eventually allowed Aaron Skinner to lay the ball back to John Maclellan and the Tain player-manager side-footed the ball into the net to make it 4–1.
Soon after, defender Alan Duff made it 5–1 thanks to a clever spot of ball-juggling inside the box before firing past Ubych.
Inver were not out of it completely though, and with 20 minutes to go, they reduced the deficit with a goal from Jack Corbett.
Corbett grabbed another moments later to take his tally to two – but the scoreline proved too much of a mountain for the village side to climb.
Adding to the carnival atmosphere of the day, a coming together between Thistle boss Maclellan and Inver defender Calum Robinson led to both players being shown a red card.
With the victory secured, Tain Thistle open up a three-point gap over second placed Inver at the top of the table.
The other game in League 2 finished 6–0 in favour of Brora Wanderers, who played at Melvich.
At Ferrycroft Park, Lochbroom were left to think again after losing 5–2 away to Lairg Rovers.
The previous League 1 meeting between the sides had been declared a walkover for the west-coasters after the Sutherland side failed to raise a team.
But Rovers had no problems with personnel this time around as they netted twice either side of a Louis Sears strike in the first half.
Lairg did not let up and punished Lochbroom with three further goals after the restart. A consolation from Ben Bruce was all the Ullapool side could muster as they conceded defeat.
Elsewhere, Helmsdale United suffered a surprise defeat at home to Lochinver, losing 3–0. The odd-team-out at the weekend, Golspie Stafford remain top of League 1.
North West Sutherland League fixtures for Saturday, June 24:
League 1
Lochbroom v Helmsdale United
League 2
Brora Wanderers v Tain Thistle
Stafford Cup Quarter Final
Lochinver v Invergordon Social Club
