League leaders Loch Ness defeat champions to strengthen title bid

Loch Ness have a golden chance of clinching this season’s North Caledonian League thanks to an impressive 3-1 win away to defending champions Invergordon.

Gary Campbell’s team have been in strong form of late, including their recent triumph in the Football Times Cup final.

Victory for Invergordon would have shot them into the title equation, but Loch Ness delivered a telling victory, which puts them 14 points clear of their beaten opponents, albeit having played three matches more.

Steven MacDonald’s early goal put Loch Ness in front but Blair Morrison equalised just before half-time.

However, Josh Race restored Shane Carling’s team’s advantage on 50 minutes and Allan MacPhee added a third goal with eight minutes remaining.

In reality, the only side now looking capable of possibly catching Loch Ness are Alan Geegan’s St Duthus after their 1-0 win against Golspie Sutherland.

Sam Ross popped up with the only goal in a game where St Duthus goalkeeper Johnny Allan captured the man of the match prize.

Inverness Athletic missed the chance to stay level with St Duthus as they slipped to a 2-1 defeat against Orkney at North Kessock.

Owen Rendall put the islanders in front late in the first half and, four minutes into the second half, Chris Simpson’s spot-kick doubled their lead.

A Ryan MacLeod penalty on 67 minutes brought Inverness back into contention, but Orkney dug deep to walk off with the win to move into seventh spot, along with five other teams locked on 21 points.

Alness United are fourth in the table – at the head of the 21-pointers – thanks to a last-gasp 4-3 victory against Nairn County’s young reserves.

In what was an end-toend thriller, Rory Williamson put visitors Nairn ahead in the opening minute.

Ryan McFee equalised for United on 14 minutes, but Callum Maclean’s goal earned Nairn a 2-1 lead at the interval.

Ryan Ross levelled for Alness and Ryan McFee put the home team in front on 71 minutes.

Murray Wilson looked to have earned Nairn a deserved share of the spoils, but a stoppagetime goal from Stan Keith secured maximum points for the Dalmore Park team.

Fort William are tucked just behind Alness as their 6-0 rout of Thurso gave them their seventh win in 11 games following last season’s demotion from the Highland League.

A double from Sean Ellis and a single from Andrew Mclean made it 3-0 by half-time and second-half goals from Martin Munro, Diego Lazaro and Andrew Sneddon secured a comfortable win for the Claggan Parkers.

Clachnacuddin’s young reserve team overtook Nairn County to move 10th following their 6-0 win against basement visitors Bonar Bridge.

Inverness Athletic lost 2-1 at home against Orkney.