Hat-trick hero Luke Ainsworth inspires Brora win as League 2 leaders prepare for weekend showdown
The race for the North-west Sutherland League 2 trophy will come to a head this weekend as joint-leaders Helmsdale United and Brora Wanderers lock horns at Couper Park.
Playing their second game in the post-split competition, Wanderers made it two wins out of two on Saturday to move neck and neck with east Sutherland rivals, Helmsdale, on six points.
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16-year-old forward Luke Ainsworth took the plaudits for a hat-trick at Ferrycroft Park as his side overcame Lairg Rovers in a 4-2 win.
Top scorer in the League 2 mini-league with four goals, the 16-year-old has returned an impressive eight goals this season overall.
Brora will travel to Helmsdale on Saturday in what shall be the second league meeting between the sides this season.
The teams last competed at School Park in June, each taking a share of the spoils in a 3-3 draw.
There was cause for celebration in Embo, as the team returned from Melvich with a 2-0 win and clean sheet.
David Bell, the Back Park side’s top marksman this season, bagged both goals in a close fought affair, with midfield man Jordan Macleod highlighted by the club for a “man of the match” performance.
Tain Thistle moved one step closer to securing the North-west Sutherland amateur league championship with a 3-1 win in Ullapool.
Goals from Liam Rostock and Scott MacDonald gave the Tain Jags a first half advantage before Lochbroom player-boss Ben Bruce halved the deficit.
A fine long-range effort from Adam Allan drew rip-roaring celebration in the Tain ranks late in the second half as they wrapped up the win.
At Culag Park, Golspie Stafford kept the pressure on Thistle with an 8-3 win over Lochinver.
Robbie Murray, who has now netted 25 goals in all north-west competitions, grabbed four goals in the rout, with George Jones (2), Cameron Sutherland and Robbie Sutherland also putting their names on the scoresheet.
In reply, Andrew Simpson, Ally Macleod and Gary Fisher each found the net for the hosts.
Stafford, who are the odd team out on Saturday, will be hoping for a Lochinver rout at the weekend as the west coasters host Tain.
Anything other than a defeat for the Tain Jags will see the championship decided on Saturday.
A Lochinver win would delay celebrations until the final weekend on August 10, but with a goal difference of 12 goals between the sides, Tain would have to suffer two heavy defeats if the title is to end up in Golspie.
Top scorers (in all NWS competitions):
1. Robbie Murray (Golspie) – 25
2. Alexander Mackay (Golspie) – 17
3. Jake Lockett (Lochinver) – 16
4. Scott MacDonald (Tain) – 15
5. Alex Mackenzie (Inver) – 13
6. Adrian Voigt (Tain) – 12
7. Kevin Cairns (Helmsdale) – 10
8. David Bell (Embo) – 9
= Kyle Mackenzie (Lochbroom) – 9
10. Luke Ainsworth (Brora) – 8
= Gary Fisher (Lochinver) – 8
Fixtures for Saturday, August 3:
League Championship
Inver v Lochbroom
Lochinver v Tain Thistle
League 2 Trophy
Embo v Lairg Rovers
Helmsdale United v Brora Wanderers
