News / Footballers record fine win over Western Isles
SHETLAND’s senior footballers bounced back from last month’s defeat to Orkney with a 3-1 victory over the Western Isles in Dingwall on Saturday.
Goals from Gary Sutherland, Sam Maver and Calvin Leask were enough to secure victory in a friendly match played on a 3G surface at Ross County’s academy.
The game was arranged to provide both sides with valuable game time in the run-up to this summer’s NatWest Island Games, with neither team having any more competitive fixtures before June.
Following a confident start, Shetland took the lead within two minutes when Sutherland poked home at the near post following a good turn and pass from Greg Tulloch.
The goal settled Shetland down and they were able to pass the ball around with real confidence and purpose, with goalkeeper Grant Wood relatively untested during the opening period.
The Western Isles did manage to strike the woodwork slightly against the run of play, but the introduction of substitutes Maver and Bobby Scott injected pace into the Shetland attack in the second half.
With about 25 minutes to go, Maver cut inside onto his left foot and unleashed an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net. A couple of minutes later, Leask got himself on the scoresheet, hammering home after a Magnus Thompson shot was blocked.
The hard-working Western Isles managed a late consolation, but Shetland were able to close out the match.
The weekend proved a very positive one for the team, with the squad thanking their opponents for the match and sponsors NorthLink Ferries for their continued support.
Shetland starting XI: Grant Wood; Joel Bradley, Richard Arthur, Piotr Drozdowski; Calvin Leask, James Farmer, Jack Clubb, James Aitken, Ryan Grant; Gary Sutherland, Greg Tulloch.
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