Golspie knock Melvich for six as Bews bags hat-trick for Embo
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Golspie Stafford co-manager John Smith believes Robbie Murray will be among the region’s top marksmen this season, after the young striker propelled his side to the top of the North-West Sutherland amateur league table with a hat-trick.
Murray was the star of the show for the league champions as they beat hosts Melvich 6-0 on Saturday, doing his bit to maintain Golspie’s winning start to the season.
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Smith said: “It was a great win for us. Melvich can be a tough place to go and you know it’s gonna be a battle, but once we got the first couple of goals we settled and played some good football. It was pleasing to get our young subs on and get a good run out to.”
“Robbie is a great player. He’s just come off a great season with Golspie Sutherland where he picked up the award for young player of the season in the North Caledonian League.
“I believe he’ll be up there for top scorer in the league this season the way he’s playing right now.”
Despite his side’s 100 per cent start to the summer season, Smith is yet to be drawn on their chances of retaining their league title.
“It is pleasing to see us at the top of the league, but it’s early days yet and we have a lot of tough games to go. We are just taking it game by game right now.
“We have a hard game coming up this week against Brora who gave us a good game earlier on in the Stafford Cup at the start of season, so we are busy preparing and putting all of our focus on this one.”
Murray netted twice in the first half, in the 20th and 25th minute, before extending his side’s lead five minutes after the restart to notch his hat-trick.
A Reece Edwards own goal then made it 4-0 on the 57 minute mark, putting any hopes of a second half comeback to bed.
A rare goal for veteran Adam Sutherland made it five for the league leaders, then, scoring the goal of the afternoon, substitute Jamie Macdonald slotted home from the edge of the area.
In a literal “game of two halves”, Lochinver surged back from three goals down to earn a victory over Helmsdale United at Culag Park.
Goals from Billy Cairns, Kevin Cairns and Alfie Mackay had United 3-0 up at half-time — and they must have thought they were home and dry — but a second half fight-back saw them run out 4-3 winners.
Owen Halcrow, Jay Ritchie, Jake Lockett and James Macleod were the men on target for the home side.
At Brora, a five-minute treble from Ethan Bews helped Embo to their first win since re-joining the league.
Debutant Cal White had opened the scoring for Wanderers after 20 minutes of play before Bews levelled for the visiting side on the half hour mark.
Embo completed the turnaround five minutes later with another from Bews, and the same player extended their lead just before the interval.
Robert Fisher reduced the deficit early in the second half when he scored directly from a corner kick, but it was not enough for Brora as the visitors held on for the win.
Elsewhere in the league, Tain Thistle beat Lairg Rovers 2-0 with goals from Finn As-Chainey and Sam Ross, and Lochbroom overcame Inver to record their first win of the campaign, thanks to a Kyle Mackenzie double, and goals from Ben Bruce and Shaun Marshall.
Fixtures this weekend:
Friday, May 24
Golspie Stafford v Brora Wanderers (7.30pm)
Saturday, May 25
Embo v Tain Thistle (midday)
Helmsdale United v Melvich (1pm)
Inver v Lochinver (TBC)
Lairg Rovers v Lochbroom (midday)
Kick off is 3pm unless otherwise stated.
