Helmsdale United take League 2 trophy with seven-goal blitz at Couper Park
Helmsdale United are this season’s North West Sutherland League 2 champions after beating post-split rivals Brora Wanderers in an all-east Sutherland clash at Couper Park.
The home side ran out 7-2 winners on Saturday, leaving no doubt as they secured the trophy with a game to spare.
The teams went in to the game level on points, both having secured maximum points in the mini-league competition thus far.
Co-manager Josh Booth lamented his side’s failure to secure a top-half spot, but reserved special praise for his young side’s mental resolve.
He said: “Obviously it was disappointing to be in the bottom half. We felt we were good enough to be competing in the top half, but disappointing points dropped through the season caused that.
“The boys dealt with that disappointment well though and we have gone on to win three out of three so far. It’s been a good chance to give a lot of younger players a game and puts us in good shape for next year.
“The younger boys getting valuable minutes have done absolutely brilliant. They haven’t let me down once. They have been thrown in at the deep end in the last three games and they’ve been brilliant.
“Saturday’s game was probably our toughest test so far and we played really well. It’s obviously a derby so it’s always a good game. The boys were up for it, and we made sure we won that bottom half. To win that makes up a bit for that disappointment.
“We now look to win again on Saturday and end on a high to put us in good stead for next year.”
United were two goals to the good at half time after Billy Cairns and Donnie Ross had found the net, and by the 70 minute mark they had extended their lead to six.
Goals from Kevin Cairns, Ethan Bews and Lewis Gill and a second for Billy Cairns made sure there was no way back for the Brora men.
Wanderers did reduce the deficit shortly after though, with goals from Charlie Dunbar and Lewis McKechnie – scored either side of a second for ‘man of the match’ Bews.
The other League 2 match scheduled for the weekend did not go ahead, with Lairg Rovers unable to raise a team for their trip to play Embo.
At Culag Park, Lochinver fell to a 3-1 defeat as Tain Thistle clinched the North West Sutherland league championship.
First half goals from Sam Ross and Callum Murray gave the Easter Ross side the advantage either side of a James Macleod strike.
The points were wrapped up when Jags top scorer Scott MacDonald grabbed his side’s third late in the second half.
In the other ‘upper half’ game of the day, Inver beat Lochbroom 4-1 at Osprey Park to secure third place.
One tranche of fixtures remain under the auspices of the North West Sutherland AFA this summer, to be played this Saturday.
League Championship:
Tain Thistle v Inver
Golspie Stafford v Lochbroom
League 2:
Brora Wanderers v Melvich
Helmsdale United v Lairg Rovers
