Sutherland take point off champions Clachnacuddin in Highlands and Islands League

Highlands and Islands League

Clachnacuddin 2

Sutherland 2

Scorers – Clachnacuddin: Hunter (45) Ross (71) Sutherland: Miller (5, 61)

SUTHERLAND took the lead twice against Highlands and Islands League champions Clachnacuddin but had to settle for a draw in Inverness.

The result will not have suited either side as fifth placed Clach and third placed Sutherland were looking to chase down league leaders Inverness Caledonian Thistle Development with a victory on Sunday afternoon.

Sutherland took the lead after five minutes when Paige Lee Miller scored a stunning 25-yard free kick which sailed into the top right corner of the net.

They could have doubled their advantage minutes later when Tracey-Anne Montgomery beat the offside trap to run on to Miller's pass which went straight through the Clachnacuddin defence.

But Clachnacuddin goalkeeper Joanne Abernethy rushed off her line and pulled off a super save to deny the striker finding the net.

Sutherland dominated the opening stages and Montgomery found herself through on goal again charging into the box.

But a last ditch tackle by Rhiannon Corr blocked her shot finding the target as Clachnacuddin found themselves pegged back in the first quarter of the game.

However the Lily Ladies started to threaten midway through the first half and had a golden chance to equalise when Michaela Munro's cross found Nicky MacDonald in the six-yard box but her shot went inches wide of the right post.

But Clach levelled on the stroke of half time when MacDonald's cross into the six-yard box found Hazel Hunter who fired the ball into the net.

Sutherland retook the lead just after the hour mark when Miller found herself one-on-one with the goalkeeper and kept her composure to fire a low drive into the net from the edge of the box.

Clachnacuddin levelled again midway through the second half when Betty Ross ran on to Claire Masterton's pass when went through the heart of the Sutherland defence and fired past Jennifer Moodie to make it 2–2.

Sutherland could have won it in the closing stages when Miller almost got her hat-trick with a powerful shot which went over the bar.

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