Week one (02-Aug-2008)

Brora Rangers 0 Keith 2
Cove Rangers 6 Wick Academy 1
Deveronvale 4 Rothes 2
Forres Mechanics 1 Buckie Thistle 1
Fraserburgh 1 Clach 1
Lossiemouth 4 Fort William 1
Nairn County 1 Inverurie Locos 4

No real surprises, beyond Cove and Locos scoring as much as they did. Missed opportunity for Fraserburgh up against a weakened Clach side.

No league games next week due to Round One of the Challenge Cup (North).

Were the tv cameras out in force the the new, ahem, improved Fort William side Jimmy?

A very happy Clach assistant manager. When I spoke to him about 8pm on Friday night he was considering signing his unborn grandson as he still hadn't got a team.

Clach did really well to get a point. It was like a win when the full time whistle went! I'd read that Clach had a good few players out, but when the team was announced on the tannoy and we were a man short on the bench, I must admit I was a wee bit worried.

Played a 4-5-1 and it looked as if it would be a long day, but you could see that the tall, fairly quick, loneman, John McLeod was going to get his chance against a rather portly central defence.

It was hit on the break stuff and in the 5th minute, big McLeod was sent down the left. 2 or 3 defenders followed him, allowing him to centre it to one of the two midfielders screaming in from the centre and right. It was an easy, but good strike that sent the two clach fans in the stand and ten in the enclosure into ecstasy! (well, I shouted, "yaaaasss..." and the guy in front of me clapped?)

10 minutes later and another break down the left from the tall number 9. This time he cut in from the left and instead of crossing, sent in a low, curling daisy cutter, which went round the keeper, hit in the inside of the post, but bounced back into play to be cleared by the Fraserburgh defence.

I left the stand at half time and went round to stand behind the goals. The second half was pretty much the same, with Fraserburgh doing most of the attacking, but with no luck. Great goal for the equaliser, with some dude in black and white stripes ripping a low, unstoppable shot from outside the box. (the Highland League website report said it was in the top corner?)

Big cheer from me when the final whistle went. Back home and in the pub for 9:30pm. Ha ha!

Mon the Clach...

the Fort starting off the season with a goal in the first game. ffs, next thing you know they'll be getting into the second round of the NOS Cup.

Are you one of those who misread the story about Fort as starting this summer?

Evidently there were a few people who thought this as they've been backed in at Scotscoup from 500-1 to 33-1, ahead of Nairn, to win the league this season.

Evidently I am. Didn't really pay a lot of attention to the story. Certainly never put a bet on it though. When is it due to start? Are Lossie looking good this year?

It's supposed to all kick-ff next summer and be ready to roll by the start of next season.



When Fort equalised, it was the least they deserved and they had some rotten luck before levelling. We scored our second straight after they scored, tho, and it knocked the guts out of them and we stroked it about and finished comfortable winners.

If Fort can get some consistent performances, keep their squad together, and not suffer too much from their pitch, bottom place will become a three way race this year.

Weekend three (for some)

Brora Rangers 0-0 Clachnacuddin
Forres Mechanics 3-1 Fort William
Lossiemouth 1-0 Rothes (click here for report and photos)

Thats all the games there were due to the Challenge Cup (North) thing.