Loch Ness win first DJ Macphee Memorial Cup and pull further clear at top of North Caledonian

Loch Ness and Inverness Athletic served up a fitting North Caledonian League game in memory of a former player of both clubs, DJ MacPhee.

League leaders Loch Ness won 3-2 to extend their advantage over Golspie Sutherland to eight points as Inverness slipped to fourth, 10 points off first place.

Forward Donald Macphee – known as DJ – died at the age of 34 last December and the DJ Macphee Memorial Cup was the prize for the winners, as well as the league points.

90’ | ⚪️ LNFC 3-2 IAFC 🔴 | #LochNess #InvAth
FULL TIME
A late strike from Alan Macphee secured Loch Ness all three points. Ryan Macleod netted twice for Athletic.

Congratulations to Loch Ness on winning the first ever DJ Macphee Memorial Cup.

Full Match report to follow… pic.twitter.com/kTxybCumIf

— Inverness Athletic Football Club (@InvernessAthFC) November 19, 2022

It was an emotional day, with players and coaches on both sides having known DJ.

Due to the heavy rain, the match was switched from Fortrose to Canal Park in Inverness.

Ryan MacLeod put Athletic in front on 25 minutes, but Allan MacPhee swiftly levelled.

MacLeod struck again to put Inverness 2-1 ahead, but Scott Morrison equalised on the stroke of the interval to make it 2-2.

Ryan Ingram was sent off for Loch Ness 68 minutes, but the 10 men won it as MacPhee clinched the points – and the memorial silverware – with a goal three minutes from time.

Money was also raised at the game for locally-based mental health charity Mikeysline.

Tain Saints remain with title shot

St Duthus, one week after losing the Football Times Cup final to Invergordon, bagged a 3-2 home win against battling basement side Bonar Bridge.

In a match switched from Migdale Playing Fields due to a waterlogged pitch, Bonar fell behind in the opening minute to a goal from Sam Ross.

An own goal from Will Ross on 18 minutes drew Bonar level, but Bradi Hulme restored Saints’ lead early in the second half.

Ft:
St Duthus 3 Bonar Bridge 2

— St Duthus Football Club (@StDuthusFC) November 19, 2022

Gutsy Bonar, who have won just once this term, responded again through Scott MacDonald to make it 2-2 before Hulme netted the winner for the Tain team on 72 minutes.

St Duthus are now third, two points behind Golspie Sutherland with a game in hand and 10 adrift of Loch Ness, but with two games to spare on the leaders.

Fort William earn victory at Alness

A blistering first half an hour helped Fort William on their way to a fine 4-2 victory at Alness United as they joined them on 18 points.

A Shaquille Wynter-Coles goal either side of one from Lerlah Hay put the West Highlanders 3-0 in front.

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Alness United 2-4 Fort William

A BIG win for the Fort! pic.twitter.com/WKCw4cHYAW

— Fort William FC (@FortWilliamFC) November 19, 2022

An Alexander Mackay goal and a penalty from Mikey Grimes brought Alness back to within one goal at half-time.

Martin Munro’s goal for Fort William on 70 minutes ensured no way back for the hosts, despite a late red card for Asad.

Nairn County see off visiting Anglers

Nairn County’s ‘A’ side are 10th in the division following their superb 4-3 victory against mid-table Halkirk United at Nairn Academy.

Two early goals from Sam Gordon had the home team in control, but Kuba Koziol pulled one back for the Anglers.

FULL-TIME SCORES – NORTH CALEDONIAN LEAGUE
Loch Ness 3 v Inverness Ath 2 (Canal Park – 5.30 p.m)
Nairn County 'A' 4 v Halkirk Utd 3
Thurso 3 v Clach 'A' 4 (Naver 3G – 1.15)
Alness Utd 2 v Fort William 4
St.Duthus 3 v Bonar Bridge 2#NCFA #Northcaley pic.twitter.com/aclBg9pkyi

— North Caledonian FA (@NorthCaleyFA) November 19, 2022

An Hasheem Bremner own goal made it 3-1 to Nairn’s starlets on 21 minutes, but Ben Sinclair’s almost immediate response kept Halkirk firmly in it.

Calum Howarth extended Nairn’s advantage just after the interval and Kyle Henderson’s goal came too late to salvage a result for the visitors.

Syrjanen treble seals epic Clach win

Clachnacuddin ‘A’ team rose one place above Thurso thanks to a stirring 4-3 win at the hosts’ Naver all-weather pitch.

Cammy Neville put the young Inverness side 1-0 ahead inside two minutes, but goals from Craig Kennedy and Kyle Innes put Thurso in front by 14 minutes.

3v4 Hatrick from Kieran Syrjanen wins the game for Clach.@MacandMac28 @NorthCaleyFA pic.twitter.com/mfm5yk8YjT

— Clach Reserves (@ClachReserves) November 19, 2022

Kieran Syrjanen soon levelled for the Lilywhites, but Grant Aitkenhead’s goal nudged the Vikings back in front on 32 minutes.

However, two quick-fire Syrjanen goals early in the second half for his hat-trick earned Clach their third win of the season.

NEXT NCFA FIXTURES. NORTH CALEDONIAN LEAGUE – 26.11.22

Golspie Sutherland V Invergordon
Halkirk Utd v Alness Utd
Inverness Ath v Nairn County 'A'
Loch Ness v Bonar Bridge
Orkney v Clach 'A' (12.45)
St.Duthus v Fort William

Kick offs are 1 p.m unless stated #NCFA #Northcaley pic.twitter.com/ZmvomJ3qRJ

— North Caledonian FA (@NorthCaleyFA) November 19, 2022