Mixed fortunes for Caithness teams in The Cup semi-finals

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There were mixed fortunes for Caithness teams in The Port Services Cup Semi-Finals played this afternoon. See below for results and summary.

Port Services Cup Semi-Finals
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Balintore 3 V Halkirk United 0

Balintore goals by Ewan Dance (3)

Invergordon 1 V Thurso 6

Invergordon goal by David Buchanan
Thurso goals by Mark Nicholl (2), Phil Makhouli (2), Alan Murray and Ross Sutherland

2.30 k.o

MSIS North Caledonian League
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Bunillidh Thistle 1 Dornoch 5

Bunillidh goal by Tom Crosby
Dornoch goals by David Grant (2), Shaun Gorman and Kevin Turner (2)

Golspie Sutherland 7 Bonar Bridge 0

Golspie goals by Gary Reid (2), Walter Mackay (2) and Robbie MacDougall (3)

Tain St.Duthus 0 Alness United 8

Alness goals by Brian Ross, David Chapman (3), Brendan MacGarvey (2), Brian Vass and Martin McAllister.

Summary
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Yesterday afternoon saw a mixture of Port Services Cup Semi-Finals and important league matches being played.

In The MSIS North Caledonian League, Golspie Sutherland and Alness United took advantage of Thurso playing in the cup as they both won easily, Alness United by 8-0 away to Tain St.Duthus and Golspie Sutherland winning 8-0 at home to Bonar Bridge.

Those results leave Alness United at the top on 15 points from six games played, Golspie in second with thirteen points from five games played and Thurso in third on eleven points from five games played.

The other league game saw Dornoch move up to sixth in the table with their second win in as many weeks, winning 5-1 away in Helmsdale against Bunillidh Thistle.

The first piece of silverware of the season will be between Thurso and Balintore as both sides moved into the Port Services Cup Final, Thurso winning 6-1 away at Invergordon, thanks to two more goals from Mark Nicholl taking his season's totaal to twelve, a double by Phil Makhouli in his first appearance of the season returning from injury, a single by Alan Murray and one late on by Ross Sutherland and Balintore avenging their opening day defeat at Seaboard Park in the league with a 3-0 home win against Halkirk United. The Final is scheduled to be played at Dudgeon Park in Brora on Saturday the 30th of October. This will be Balintore's fourth final in a row having played in The PCT Cup final (losing 1-0 to Thurso), Morris Newton Cup Final (4-2 to Thurso) and The Football Times Cup Final (winning 4-1 against Halkirk United) last season.

Next weekend sees a full programme of league matches as leaders Alness United entertain Invergordon, second placed Golspie travel up to Helmsdale to take on Bunillidh Thistle, Thurso take the short trip across the county to take on local rvals Halkirk United in the Derby, Bonar Bridge entertain Dornoch and finally Balintore look to climb the table and get their league challenge back on track with a short trip to Tain. All games kicking off at 3 p.m.

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Scot Ads Highland League result from yesterday

Inverness Clach 5 V Wick Academy 1

Report from Highland League.net :-

Classy Clach win big 02-Oct-2004
Title holders Clachnacuddin went nap as they continued to climb the table securing their fourth league win in a row against Wick Academy in Inverness this afternoon.

Clach came into this one as heavy favourites and it took them just 18 minutes to prove worthy of that tag. Colin Mitchell broke free on the right and his dangerous centre was met by Andy Lewis who headed beyond Alec Thomson.

Their lead lasted only five minutes. Referee Stuart Logan punished Davie Ross for a handball in the penalty box and Martin Gunn stepped up to fire the ball high down the centre of the goals beating Mark McRitchie.

The Lilywhites moved back in front on the 33rd minute through centre back Steve Macdonald. Neil MacCuish's corner was headed across goal and it hit off Macdonald and landed in the back of the net to the delight of the player himself.

He then netted a second five minute later when he powered home a header form six yards after another Neil MacCuish corner. Amazingly he almost completed a first half hat-trick but Alex Thomson denied him with a wonderful save on the stroke of half time.

Gary Ross put Clach on easy street in the 57th minute when good work by substitute Tony Low on the left saw the former ICT man hit the byeline before cutting it back to Gary Ross who sidefooted it into the right hand side of the goal.

Wick's first effort of the second half saw Gary Manson try his luck form all of thirty yards but it didn't have the required dip to test Mark McRitchie. Nigel Mackenzie was then played through on goal in the 64th minute but he shot straight at the ample frame of Mark McRitchie who deflected it away for a corner.

Nine minutes later a Martin Gunn cross was spilled by Mark McRitchie however Sandy Macleod covered behind the keeper to clear it off the line.

Tony Low scored his first goal for the Lilywhites that saw them go nap. He met a Gordon Morrison cross with a stunning diving header that flew into the bottom corner from seven yards out.

The second half had been dominated by Clach and they very nearly made it six when Alex Bone was sent clear but with only the keeper to beat the recent signing dragged his shot past the post.

Full Time: Clachnacuddin 5 Wick Academy 1
Reporter: Gavin Dearie