Lynn strike secures points for Golspie Sutherland as Bonar Bridge share spoils with Halkirk United
Golspie Sutherland kicked off their North Caledonian League campaign with a 2-1 win at Tain against St Duthus on Wednesday evening.
It was honours even at half time with neither side able to break the deadlock – Jayden Bremner coming closest for visitors with a shot just wide of the post and Jack Wardrop and Reece Wilson both calling Golspie goalkeeper Jack Steven into action.
But it was Golspie who opened the scoring ten minutes after the interval when defender Ryan Dryburgh prodded home after Tain had failed to deal with a Shaun Urquhart free kick.
St Duthus were reduced to ten men on 68 minutes when Louie Wardrop was dismissed for dangerous play.
Adding to the home side’s woes, Wardrop suffered a concussion after being knocked out during the challenge, and had to be taken to hospital for assessment.
Pressing the man advantage, Golspie doubled their lead ten minutes later when new signing Mackenzie Lynn found the net, showing persistence to carry the ball into the box and find the far corner.
St Duthus did manage to half the deficit with seven minutes of normal time remaining after they were awarded a penalty for handball, Scott MacDonald doing the needful to force the ball past Steven from 12 yards.
At Migdale Playing Fields, Bonar Bridge opened their account for the season with a point against Halkirk United.
The Anglers were first to score on 20 minutes when James Mackintosh gained possession down the left hand side and from the edge of the area he found the net with a lob over Bridge goalkeeper Steven Martin.
The hosts were not to be outdone, however, and with a quarter of an hour remaining, a clever ball into the path of the advancing Aiden Stainke allowed him to slot the ball under Kieran Macleod in the United goal to make it 1-1.
In the other game of the night, defending champions Invergordon took all three points from their ‘derby’ meeting with local rivals Alness United.
17-year-old striker Torran Lambie, on loan from Ross County, netted on his North Caledonian League debut after 18 minutes of the match, before James Ross made it 2-0.
Former Buckie Thistle forward John Mcleod, who was also making his league debut for the home side, grabbed the third of the goal of the game on 78 minutes after coming off the bench.