Inverness Caley Thistle lose out in penultimate SWF Championship game of the season; Nairn St Ninian lost out to Ross and Cromarty in Highlands and Islands League Cup opener
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Caley Thistle Women fell to defeat in their penultimate match of the SWF Championship season.
Inverness went on the road to East Fife, and despite skipper Kirsty Deans finding the net they would lose 2-1.
In the Highlands and Islands League Cup, two late goals cost Nairn St Ninian dearly as they surrendered a lead three times to lose 5-3 to Ross and Cromarty.
Kicking off the group stage, it was a back-and-forth contest that produced eight goals between the two teams.
Creating a number of chances in the first half, it was Rachel Frieslick who broke the deadlock midway through by forcing the ball over the line at a corner kick.
Ross and Cromarty, though, would equalise on the brink of the interval to leave the game in the balance.
A refocused St Ninian came out swinging from the start, with Jen Christison finding the net shortly after the kick off.
Again, Ross and Cromarty would equalise, but Christison would restore Nairn’s lead just after the hour mark.
Unfortunately for the Showfield outfit, that was the last time they would celebrate, as their visitors quickly drew back level at 3-3.
Late goals in the 80th and 85th minutes would see Ross and Cromarty pull clear of their hosts in the closing stages, with Jayne Morrison their major threat with a hat-trick on Sunday. Loren Martin and Ceitidh Aitchison were Ross and Cromarty’s other goalscorers.
In the same group, defending champions Buckie picked up a 2-1 win away at Sutherland. Lori Lappin scored a double for Buckie, who conceded to a wonderstrike from Sutherland’s Rhiann Sutherland.
The other fixture in the competition pitted Caithness against Orkney, who won 3-1.
Lauren Poke, Reese Flaws and Abi Coltherd found the net for the islanders, while Anna Foubister got the response for Caithness.
This weekend’s focus turns back to league action, with Nairn facing a tough task against Buckie at home.
The top two face off as Sutherland host Ross County. Elsewhere, Ross and Cromarty host Clach, and Caithness and Orkney play a rematch of last weekend’s cup tie.
