Watch our match highlights below.
On Week 4 of the 2025/26 North Caledonian Season we travelled across the Pentland Firth to face Orkney FC courtesy of Pentland Ferries with a smaller squad than ideal but produced a resilient and disciplined display to claim a hard-earned 2–1 victory over Orkney in Holm.
Facing the strongest Orkney line-up of the season, Bonar arrived with a clear game plan. Dressed in their black away kit, they allowed the hosts plenty of possession in non-dangerous areas, defending in numbers and working tirelessly to frustrate their opponents.
The visitors struck first after just five minutes. Cameron Breen released Rahim down the right, who glided past his marker before cutting the ball back intelligently for Archie Ryder. Ryder showed great composure to drill a low finish beyond Liam Valentine and silence the home support.
Orkney continued to see more of the ball but were unable to break through a well-organised Bonar defence. The hosts were punished again when Ryder doubled his tally midway through the half, smashing a superb free-kick from 20 yards past Valentine to make it 0–2 at the break.
The second half followed a similar pattern, with Orkney pushing higher up the pitch but finding little joy in the final third. Ryder, Bruce Urquhart, and Jordan Shaw worked tirelessly in midfield to keep Bonar’s shape intact, while goalkeeper Steven Martin made a crucial save on the hour to tip Liam Deldey’s fierce strike over the bar.
Bonar remained dangerous on the counter, spurning a couple of promising openings. Orkney almost pulled one back when Chris Simpson’s quickly taken free kick rattled the crossbar, but the visitors’ defence stood firm. Late on, Martin produced another vital stop, and Robbie Breen’s last-ditch clearance off the line preserved the two-goal cushion.
With the away side pleading for the whistle, the referee played deep into stoppage time. In the 97th minute, Orkney finally found a way through, a back-post header from Aiden Drever flying into the roof of the net to deny Martin his clean sheet.
That proved the final action of a dramatic afternoon, Bonar Bridge holding on through 98 gruelling minutes to claim a memorable win and a valuable three points on the road.
Final Score Orkney FC 1 – 2 Bonar Bridge FC
Thanks to Orkney FC for the game & hospitality. All the best for the remainder of the season.
MOTM on the day was Archie Ryder scoring a brace in the first half proving enough for the 3 points.
