Hat-trick hero Connor Bunce is looking to meet his goal target for Clachnacuddin when they face Wick Academy on Saturday
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CONNOR Bunce is looking to meet his goal target for the season early when Clachnacuddin face Wick Academy in Inverness on Saturday.
After scoring a hat-trick in a sensational 4–2 win over Inverurie Locos, the centre forward has equalled last season's total of nine goals.
Now the 21-year-old, who works as a pipeline coordinator during the week, is looking to find one more to make it his best season in front of the net in the Highland League.
He says confidence is flying after their victory at Inverurie last week and believes he's capable of reaching 10 for the season at Grant Steet Park on Saturday.
He said: "That is me on nine goals for the season, if I can get anything better than last year then that is what I want.
"If I manage to get double figures for the season, then I will be happy with that."
Bunce described last Saturday's 4–2 victory over Inverurie Locos as Clachnacuddin's best performance of the season.
It was their fifth victory of the Highland League campaign in what has been a disappointing league season so far as they find themselves in 14th place, with 13 defeats from 19 matches.
But Bunce says their win at Harlaw Park could be the platform for a better second half of the season.
"It was good to bounce back from the week before when we lost to Nairn County," said Bunce.
"Our confidence was low before the game, once we got one goal and then the second, everything started to flow at Inverurie.
"Not having a match the whole of December meant our confidence was low before the clash with Nairn.
"But we wanted to prove a point as we know we are a lot better than what happened against Nairn County.
"We knew we are a better team than that."
Bunce was part of the Inverness Caledonian Thistle youth set-up until he left at 15 and then joined Clachnacuddin at 16.
Between 16 and 18 years old, he made a few appearances under former managers Iain Polworth, Brian Macleod and Sandy Macleod.
But it wasn't until Jordan Macdonald became boss that he got a run of games in the first team.
Apart from going on loan for a short period at Inverness Athletic in the North Caledonian League, he has been a regular feature for Clachnacuddin.
Now he is determined to continue repaying the faith MacDonald has shown in him.
He said: "At half time against Inverurie, he explained to me and James Anderson that he wanted more from us.
"I went out and scored a hat-trick so hopefully that made him happy."
Bunce is also enjoying the partnership he has developed with James Anderson, with the two scoring 34 goals between them last season.
He feels their understanding on the pitch will lead to more goals in the remainder of the campaign for Clachnacuddin.
"James was involved in two of my goals against Inverurie," he said.
"It was the same last season, he set up my goals and I set up his goals.
"Coming into this season we wanted to build on that and hopefully there are more goals to come."
