Golspie Sutherland and Bonar Bridge both look to bounce back from defeat with away games in North Caledonian League
Golspie Sutherland and Bonar Bridge were both on the wrong end of disappointing results last time out in the North Caledonian League.
Golspie, who had gone into the weekend sitting second in the table, lost 1–0 to reigning champions Invergordon.
It was a close-run thing, though, as it took an 89th minute goal from Colin Mason to take the points away from the King George V Park.
There was no such drama in Bonar Bridge’s match, as they shipped 10 goals to table-toppers Loch Ness.
Scott Morrison and Josh Race put Bonar behind with daylight between the sides inside 11 minutes.
Phil MacDonald and Allan MacPhee would then get in on the act before half time, making it 4–0 to the hosts in Fortrose.
The same pair would score back-to-back goals 10 minutes after the restart, before MacDonald sealed his personal hat trick in the 70th minute.
An own goal would take the tally to 8–0 soon afterwards.
Glenn Donoghue brought Loch Ness into the last 10 minutes with a nine-goal advantage, before MacPhee became the second hat trick scorer for Shane Carling’s men to make it 10–0 by the full time whistle.
Those results leave Bonar Bridge rooted to the bottom of the table, but with second-bottom Thurso not in action last weekend they have not fallen any further off the pace in their quest to move up the standings.
Golspie, however, slipped from second down to sixth in a congested chasing pack behind Loch Ness.
There are now eight teams within four points of each other, meaning movement up and down the table is practically inevitable in the coming weeks, but Loch Ness are still a long way out in front with a 10-point advantage over any of their challengers.
Bonar and Golspie both have away trips to try and get back on track this week.
Golspie travel to the team that replaced them in second spot, St Duthus, who are fresh off the back of a 3–0 victory over Fort William.
Bonar Bridge, meanwhile, will make the journey to Clachnacuddin A, who are one of the teams they could potentially reel in with a couple of good results.
The young Lilywhites also lost last time out, 3–2 against Orkney.
Elsewhere, Loch Ness will feel they have passed a massive obstacle if they can overcome Invergordon away from home.
Last season Loch Ness appeared to be running away with the title, only for a late collapse to allow Invergordon in to pip them to the crown, so they will feel a win tomorrow afternoon would go a long way to avoiding a repeat scenario at the end of the current campaign.
As far as Golspie will be concerned, Inverness Athletic’s home match against Orkney will be of some interest.
Athletic are one of two teams joining Golspie on 21 points, and with Halkirk inactive this weekend the chance could come to rise back up the table if Athletic lose out.
They may have to be wary of Alness United behind, though, as they will be favourites to get a win over Nairn County A.
Fort William will be hoping to leapfrog Golspie too with the right results, and they could even help Bonar Bridge’s plight at the bottom of the table when they take on Thurso.
Generally speaking, teams will be beginning to look towards the winter break, with just two more rounds of matches scheduled for 2022 after this one.
