Taylor hits hat-trick in rare Fort William victory
The new season is on the horizon and a number of Highland League sides got their first Saturday run out. However, just one of them ended up winning – FORT WILLIAM! Fort travelled to face a young JEANFIELD SWIFTS side and took advantage of the youthfulness of their opponents to bag a long-awaited win. Aidan Taylor netted a hat-trick for the Claggan Park men, with John Treasurer scoring a brace. Scott Hunter, Ruaridh Macdonald, Robbie Rydings and Robbie Nevison were also on target in the 9-3 success.
The Swifts first team were also well beaten, ELGIN CITY thumping them 7-1. Kane Hester opened his tally with a treble, while Brian Cameron, Rabin Omar, Kyle Willis and Russell Dingwall took full advantage of the openings that came their way.
INVERNESS CALEY THISTLE split their squads to defeat CLACHNACUDDIN and STRATHSPEY THISTLE respectively. James Keatings got the opening goal in Inverness as he knocked home Tom Walsh’s cross at the back post in the seventh minute. Nikolay Todorov doubled the lead on the hour mark, with Walsh once again providing the assist as they ran out 2-0 winners over Clach.
Ironically, as one ICT team stopped scoring, the other began. James Macshane (pen) and Martin Duncan had Strathspey 2-0 up before Jordan White (2), Charlie Trafford, Mitch Curry, Millar Gamble and Roddy Macgregor helped the Championship side run out 6-3 winners, with former Caley Jag man Craig Macmillan netting a consolation for the Strathspey side. ROSS COUNTY also split their squad up to defeat two different Highland League sides, bagging two clean sheets in the process. The Staggies put three unanswered goals past NAIRN COUNTY and 11 past FORRES MECHANICS. The combination of Declan Mcmanus (4) and Brian Graham (3) put the Can Cans to the sword. Watson, Paton, Murray and Armstong also scored. Ross Stewart and Billy Mckay netted in the first half, while Joel Macbeath was the third player on target at Nairn’s Station Park.
KEITH travelled to Edinburgh, going down 2-1 to leading Lowland League side SPARTANS. The Maroons were two goals down and, although Michael Selfridge pulled a goal back, they were unable to end with honours even.