Table toppers Huntly ran out 2 goals to 1 winners at the Harmsworth park.
Huntly got off to a good start in 3 minutes. David Cowie gave the ball away just outside his own box, and Huntlys number 6 Mark Gray scored. That was a bad goal to concede and it almost got worse in 6 minutes when Alex Lamb had to make a last ditch clearance off the line from Richard Craig.
Academys first real opportunity in the game came in 16 minutes when Gary Farquhar whipped in a great cross and Jamie Mackenzie headed just over the Huntly bar with Richard Bowman the Huntly keeper pretty much beat.
In 20 minutes Martin Gunn then had another good shot at goal, this time from 20 yards out that clipped the top of the Huntly cross-bar.
Huntly ended the half with another good chance in 42 minutes with Richard Stainer hitting a strong shot that smacked back off Don MacMillans left hand post.
Half time 0 – 1
Both teams shared possesion at the start of the second half but In 55 minutes referee Eric Robertson awarded Huntly quite a soft penalty when Craig Shearer was deemed to have brought down Huntlys Richard Taylor in the box. Huntlys number 5 Ross Campbell scored from the spot.
Academy then came right back into the game in 63 minutes when Gary Farquhar threaded a ball through the middle of the Huntly defence which Jamie Mackenzie picked up and finished well with a low driven shot.
This sparked the game into end to end stuff with Huntly next to come close in 67 minutes when Richard Taylor rattled the Academy cross-bar with a 20 yard drive.
In 70 minutes Alistair Budge substituted David Cowie for Murray Coghill, but Murray didn’t really manage to make much of an impact in what was left of the game.
Academys then had a great chance to draw even in 81 minutes but a well taken drive by Martin Gunn went just over the Huntly cross-bar.
Alistair Budge made one late change in 91 minutes with Andrew Macleod coming off for Martin MacGregor.
The final whistle went with Huntly really hanging on, but they did enough to win all 3 points, and that puts them 4 points ahead of Cove at the top of the table.
Full time 1 – 2
Huntly continue on their winning ways, but Academy gave them a good hard game and they had to work for the points. Sloppy defending for the first goal, and a soft penalty were Academys down-fall today, as otherwise they played some good football and on balance deserved at least a share of the points.
Full match report can be read here.
Match Sponsor Johnson Controls
Sponsors man of the match Gary Farquhar receives his award from Steve Lucas
