It was Southend who began this week's proceedings, with a hard fought victory over Iochdar Saints in torrential weather. The teams contested a fairly even first half with Saints having the wind behind them.

Both created plenty of opportunities, however neither team could find the back of the net. It was Southend who eventually broke the deadlock on 60 minutes. Andrew MacIsaac sent a wicked ball in from a corner only for it to be met by his brother Norman John, who powered his header in. Their ecstasy was short-lived as the goal scorer was substituted with a suspected ankle injury.

Credit has to be given to Saints as they did create some decent chances with Aonghas "Topnet" Campbell having a shot deflected just over the bar and young defender Joe MacNeil having his effort in injury time blocked in a goal mouth scramble.

The game ended 1-0, with Southend very relieved to get the three points. Saints - under the new management of Stephen MacAulay - are on the other hand still looking for their first points of the campaign.

Benbecula had to produce a spirited performance as they faced this season's much talked about side Wanderers. Benbecula began the game missing influential midfielders Donald "Don Dons" MacPherson and Matthew "Dobes" MacRury as well as defender Colin MacPhail and Wanderers started the game brightly.

Ally MacLeod's performance was significant for the South Uist side as he began to pull the strings in midfield. The first chance of the match fell to Wanderers, David MacInnes just managing to head a Colin Scott shot off the line. It was however Benbecula who managed to get their noses in front. A delightful through ball from Hector MacPhee sent the rapid Sean MacInnes through on goal. The striker produced a composed finish on 25 minutes, sending his shot low and hard into the bottom left corner from the edge of the box.

Benbecula tried in vain to get the two goal cushion, but Wanderers now have this new never say die attitude and were to draw level 10 minutes later. A free kick from Ally MacLeod from the left hand side was turned into the net by Benbecula's Ali MacAulay, and moments later Wanderers could have taken the lead. Good play from Bob MacGillvary on the right as he used a mishmash of his pace and trickery to set up John Alec Skinner, but the Wanderers striker sent his shot high over the bar from 8 yards out.

Half-time came and went, and Benbecula started to mount the pressure on Wanderers. It eventually paid off as Donald MacRury found himself 12 yards out with just the keeper to beat. He coolly slotted the ball away sending his team-mates into celebration. Wanderers did have one last chance from a Gary Skinner corner: the midfielder fired it low into the box but a combination of fine defending and goalkeeping from Martin Sloss and Ross Sutherland kept the score at 2-1.

Full-time and Benbecula, like Southend, find themselves relieved to get the three points; but they now must focus their attentions to North Uist United whom they play away from home next week. Wanderers hope to get back to winning ways as they face Barra away.

Elsewhere, North Uist continued their revival as they beat Barra away from home in a five-goal thriller. Two goals form Donnie "Big D" MacLean and a Donald MacIllwraith effort was enough for the visitors. Goal scorers for Barra were James Davidson and Liam Campbell.

Westford continued to fire blanks as they lost 2-0 at home to Eriskay, but in all fairness a lack of finishing power upfront and fine goalkeeping from Stuart Menzies kept the score respectable.

The game began with increasing pressure on the Westford goal from Norman MacInnes, but it was Sean MacKinnon that put them ahead, late in the half.

The second half started with a quick goal from Seumas Campbell and although Eriskay kept the pressure up, Westford began to get further up the field thanks to a fantastic performance from Addie Kelty controlling the midfield. Matthew Bramwell also came close, missing an open goal from one yard.

Westford played much better in this game, and should take more confidence into their meeting with Iochdar Saints next weekend.

Ross Sutherland, Robert Wyvill.


This week's
fixtures are
as follows:

North Uist Utd
v Benbecula
Southend v Eriskay
Barra v Wanderers
Saints v Westford