Brora and Lairg record first round wins in north-west cup competitions
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Eight teams took part in first round action last night, as both of the North West Sutherland League's cup competitions kicked off.
In the Stafford Cup first round, Lairg Rovers came from 2-0 down to beat Helmsdale United 3-2.
Rovers needed extra time to edge past their hosts, with Jordan Laidlaw securing the victory from the penalty spot.
United burst into a 2–0 lead in the first half thanks to goals from Kevin Cairns and Colin MacRae, before Harris Mackenzie halved the deficit.
It looked as though the Helmsdale side would hold on for the win until 15 minutes from time, when Craig Ross netted from outside the area to make it 2–2.
Late in the first period of extra time, a foul on Archie Ryder led to a penalty award for Lairg, and defender Laidlaw found the net with the winning conversion.
Inver are also through after they defeated Golspie Stafford 3-2 in the first round of the Stafford Cup.
The Easter Ross side took the lead after five minutes from the penalty spot after Alex Mackenzie had been fouled inside the area.
The same man took the spot kick to give his side the early advantage, and just fifteen minutes later Johnie Beattie made it 2–0 with a good finish on the end of a cross from Connor Mackenzie.
But a quickfire double from Stafford brought them back into the game, netting through James Macrae and Alexander Mackay in 35 and 40 minutes.
With neither side able to score during the second half, it looked as though the game would be set for another 30 minutes – until the third minute of injury time.
A long kick out from young goalkeeper Zef Ubych was met by Beattie who sent the home crowd into wild celebration with a well taken goal.
In the Mackay Cup first round, Lochbroom beat Lochinver 7–6 on penalties after both teams were level at 4-4 after extra time.
A big crowd turned at Ullapool High School for the 'west coast classic' as the home side ascended into a 2–0 lead thanks to goals from Robert Macrae and Shaun Marshall.
Persistence from Jake Lockett saw the Lochinver striker eventually put one past Lochbroom keeper William Godding to half the scoreline before the break.
The Ullapool side reinstated their two goal advantage early in the second half after a long throw met Ben Bruce who flicked it on for Scott Milligan to score.
A top corner finish from Clarke Hutchison made it 3–2 before Lochinver found an equaliser in the final 10 minutes of the game through Dylan Morrison. With no more goals in normal time, a further thirty minutes were required.
The breakthrough arrived for Lochinver with Hutchison notching his second of the evening.
Lochbroom fired back though and from a Kyle Mackenzie cross, Andrew Errington scored his first goal for the club to make it 4–4.
The inevitable penalty shoot-out that followed also went the distance. Dylan Mackenzie saved the first try from Bruce but William Godding replied by saving a Lochinver kick.
In sudden death, co-manager Michael Munro stepped up to win the game for Lochbroom after another save from Godding made sure of victory.
Also in the Mackay Cup, Brora Wanderers had to launch an epic comeback against Melvich to reach the next round.
The east Sutherland side had to come back from 3–1 down before winning 4–3 on the north coast.
Craig Kennedy and Michael Smith had Melvich two goals to the good within half an hour of the match before Scott Miller pulled one back with an overhead kick.
A persistent Melvich re-established their lead on 65 minutes when James Murray converted from the penalty spot.
Brora were not to be outdone though, and they further narrowed the gap with a Charlie Dunbar goal from a corner kick.
Netting his second, Miller eventually brought his side back on level terms with five minutes to go – but he saved the best for the final minute of the game.
Grabbing his hat-trick, the striker showed serenity as he broke clear and dribbled round Melvich goalkeeper Rowan Anderson before slotting into the net.
Brora Wanderers will now travel to Inver in the next round.
