Ness manager hails reshuffled deck despite loss against West Side

As a result Macleod turned his gaze towards the Ness Social Club team from the Communities League with five players drafted in, including three of his back four, and Macleod was stunned and delighted with their display.

“It was a bit of a robbery,” he said. “We had to draft in a bunch of guys from the Communities League team where we played five from them and we also had to shuffle the rest of the team around.

“The boys who came in from the Communities League were brilliant.”

Duncan Maclean scored the only goal in the first-half with a free kick which was missed by everyone before skidding off the turf and into the net.

West Side hit man Innes Iain Morrison had a penalty saved but Ness had chances of their own says Macleod.

“At half-time it was only 1-0 but we had hit the post, missed chances and forced their keeper into one or two worldy saves. Our guys tired and when West Side scored a penalty to make it 2-1 that was it and the stuffing went out of us,” he explained.”

“It was a brilliant performance and I was chuffed to bits,” he went on. “We were giving West Side a game and a real fright especially in the first half so it was really sad to see Titch leave the field in an ambulance. It looked pretty bad and is apparently ankle ligaments. All we can do is try and roll with the punches.

“We can’t help wonder what could have been.”

A cross from Scott MacRury was turned into his own net by a retreating West Side defender to send the two sides in level at the interval.

But after the break Martainn Shields scored from the spot to send West 2-1 clear before ex-Ness man Kenny ‘Parry’ Macleod and Ali ‘Barvas’ Macleod rounded off the scoring.

After the match West Side manager Murchadh Macdonald commented: “We played well and it was a good solid showing, especially in the second-half.

“We were better in the first-half too but in the second we got hold of the ball, passed it around well and pretty much took control.

“The last half hour was pretty comfortable and it is so good to get back to winning ways – it was well needed.”