Balloan take top spot with city derby win as young Lilywhites are legs eleven
Balloan are top of the Highland League under-18 north division table thanks to a 4-1 win over city rivals Inverness Athletic on Sunday.
The defending title holders took advantage of previous league leaders Wick Academy having a weekend off, owing to Alness United’s involvement in the Scottish Youth Cup.
But they were made to work for their points in a close fought match at Inverness Royal Academy.
Balloan took the lead with 20 minutes gone when Owen Macdonald put the ball past his own goalkeeper, and within 10 minutes they had made it 2-0 with a goal from Bodhan Campbell.
Oscar Beattie halved the deficit three minutes later to bring the first half to a tight conclusion - and it remained that way until the last few minutes of the match.
Netting his second of the game, the prolific Campbell scored with just two minutes to go, ending the home side’s hopes of a comeback.
The game was put beyond doubt in the final minute of the match with a goal from Lewis Gibson.
At Portree High School, Clachnacuddin’s young guns were unrelenting in their eleven goal drubbing of North West Skye.
The Lilywhites were 6-0 up at the interval thanks to goals across the team.
Tyler Cassels-Gatensby opened the scoring after just two minutes before a Ruari Preston own goal six minutes later doubled their advantage.
Shaun Clare and Alfie Forsyth then made it 4-0 before Daniel MacDonald and Alex Heggie added goals in the last ten minutes of the half.
The west coast side did manage to pull a couple back through Magnus Kroonstuiver and Oscar Wilson, but there was to be no let up on pressure from the visitors.
If the first half had been a team display, the second undoubtedly belonged to one man – as marksman Clare showed he was in no mood to compromise, netting a second half treble.
Scoring all three goals in quick succession, he took his overall tally to four either side of further goals from Callum Donaldson and Struan Thain to round off the scoring at 11-2.
Nairn County had to settle for a point in a close-fought mid-table clash at home to Keith.
It took until the 65th minute for the hosts to break the deadlock through Chevy Thomson, but it took the Maroons just four minutes to draw level.
An unfortunate own goal scored by County’s Angus Beattie restored parity with neither side able to find a winner.
In the other game of the day, Buckie Thistle bested Rothes by five goals to one at Speyside High School.
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