Highland League Roundup 13th August 2011
First win for Kirkwood as Academy stun the champions
Academy kick-started their
2011/12 Highland League campaign with a superb 3-1 victory over champions
Buckie Thistle at Harmsworth
Park.
It was the Scorries' first
win under Davie Kirkwood and it was thoroughly deserved as David Allan marked
his return to the side with the goal that sealed the points, following earlier
strikes from Sam Mackay and Stevie Cunningham.
There was a let-off for
Academy when Paul Napier hit the bar with a curling effort after 20 minutes.
Six minutes later Kirkwood's
men forged ahead when Mackay slotted the ball into the net after Allan had
fired it towards goal.
The Jags got themselves level
just before the half-hour mark when Zander Sutherland's fine half-volley flew
over Alan Bokas from 30 yards.
Buckie, who had several key
players missing, were reduced to 10 men early in the second half when Michael
Morrison got his marching orders for a last-man challenge on the lively Gary
Weir.
Academy made the most of their
numerical advantage as Cunningham slipped the ball past Kevin Main
after good work by Mackay and Richard Macadie.
A volley from Weir shaved the
outside of Main's left post, but the Scorries
were not to be denied a third goal and it came after 71 minutes. Weir battled
for possession on the edge of the Buckie penalty area and slid the ball across
for Allan, who hammered it high into the net.
Allan almost got another
right at the end but he was denied in a one-on-one with Main.
Fraserburgh took over top spot
following a 2-1 victory over Forres Mechanics at Bellslea
Park.
Robert Morrice fired home the
Broch's opener just after the half-hour mark but the Can-Cans were level within
four minutes courtesy of Simon Allan.
However, Allan went from saint
to sinner on the hour mark when he turned the ball into his own net after a
cross from Peter Alexander Bruce, making his Fraserburgh debut after arriving
on loan from Peterhead.
Nairn
County's 100 per cent start to the
season was brought to a halt by Keith, who fought back from two goals down at Station
Park to win 3-2.
Summer signing Conor Gethins
continued his excellent form by heading in the opener for Nairn, and Martin
MacDonald doubled their lead before the break.
The Maroons' comeback began
with 20 minutes to go when Cammy Keith reduced the deficit. Late goals by
Andrew McAskill and Craig McGovern secured all three points for Darren Still's
side.
Brora Rangers and
Clachnacuddin shared the points in a 2-2 draw at Dudgeon
Park.
The Cattachs took the lead
after being awarded a penalty when James Murray was brought down by keeper
Stevie Dunn. Stuart Golabek's spot-kick was blocked by Dunn only for Liam
Baxter to net from the rebound.
Sam Urquhart levelled for the
Lilywhites but Murray
restored Brora's lead before half-time. There were just five minutes to go when
substitute Mark Kennedy forced home Clach's second equaliser.
Danny Milne and Martin
Johnston were on target for Cove Rangers in their 2-1 win against Deveronvale
at Princess Royal Park. Mike McKenzie pulled one back from the penalty spot for
Vale, who handed a debut to Kris Duncan following his transfer from Rothes.
A second-half strike by
Michael Fletcher was enough to give Rothes a 1-0 victory at Inverurie – the
Speysiders' second away win in the opening weeks of the season, following on
from their opening-day success against Turriff.
Lossiemouth, buoyed by their
win against Academy the previous Saturday, picked up a second successive 1-0
home win – this time against Strathspey Thistle. Nikki Smith headed the only
goal in the run-up to half-time.
The new Turriff United
manager Mark Simpson saw his team rack up a 4-2 victory over Huntly at The
Haughs.
Dave McKenzie's opener for
Turriff was cancelled out by Michael Fyfe but Mark Gray restored the home
side's lead before Donald Fraser made it 3-1. Huntly gave themselves a lifeline
with a David Booth penalty but Michael Taylor rounded off the scoring with
Turriff's fourth.
