Big win for new boys Balloan as curtain rises on Highland League under-18 season
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The new Highland Football League under-18 season kicked off with five matches on its opening card this past Sunday.
The league welcomes three new teams this season, with Balloan, North West Skye and Dingwall joining the under-18 ranks.
Balloan 8 North West Skye 0
New sides Balloan and North West Skye met in the game of the day at Inverness Royal Academy – with the city side dishing out an 8-0 thrashing to their island counterparts.
Bodhan Campbell turned out to be a hat-trick hero with goals in the 6th, 27th and 83rd minute of the game, and Caleb Downing also netted during the first half to give his side a 3–0 advantage at the interval.
Second half goals from John Munro, Lewis Mackay, Ross Macleod and Cameron McIntosh rounded off an impressive win.
Rothes 3 Dingwall 1
At Rothes Recreation Park, the locals completed all the hard work in the first half, racking up a three-goal lead against new members Dingwall.
Forward man Jake Greenhorn got Rothes off the mark after a quarter hour before doubling his tally on 23 minutes.
Owen Alexander then made it 3–0 with seven minutes of the first period remaining.
The Easter Ross side netted a consolation through Rheo Elliot five minutes into the second half.
Alness United 2 Lossiemouth 2
Champions Alness United had to settle for a point in their opening game against visitors Lossiemouth.
The Moray side twice took the lead against the hosts, netting in 13 minutes through Ewan O'Neil.
Cameron Grant pulled Alness back into the game 15 minutes later, but the equaliser proved only temporary as the Coasters retook the lead with 35 minutes gone; Ellis Brotherston on target.
It looked as though the points may be headed back to Lossiemouth, but an 82nd minute leveller from Rory Cameron resulted in a sharing of the spoils.
Wick Academy 8 Nairn County 0
At Harmsworth Park, Wick Academy put eight goals past Nairn County to get their campaign off to a perfect start.
A first half hat-trick from Scott Durrand set the Scorries on their way, with Owen Bain and Sean Pearson on target to give them a 5–0 half-time lead.
Substitute Josh Sutherland grabbed a sixth three minutes after the restart before Matthew Aitkenhead netted to take the total to seven.
With two minutes remaining in the game, Durrand popped up to grab his fourth to make it 8–0.
Keith 2 Inverness Athletic 0
In the only other game of the day, Inverness Athletic lost 2-0 to Keith at Alexander Simpson Park.
Despite the scores being level at half-time, the persistence of striker Michael Maver shone through for Keith as he netted twice, in the 61st and 85th minute, with no reply.
The match between Clachnacuddin and Forres Mechanics was postponed.
Fixtures for Sunday August 27:
Dingwall v Wick Academy
Forres Mechanics v Rothes
Inverness Athletic v Alness United
Lossiemouth v Clachnacuddin
Nairn County v Balloan
North West Skye v Keith
