Highland League round-up – Saturday August 20th
Scorries hit back to make it two wins in a row
Academy made it back-to-back wins when they came from behind
to rack up a 3-1 victory over Strathspey Thistle at Seafield
Park.
It was the Scorries' first away success against the Grantown
Jags – at the third attempt – and the result was enough to lift them into
seventh place in the table.
The home side opened the scoring in spectacular fashion
after 20 minutes when David Ross controlled the ball on his chest and sent a
dipping volley over Alan Bokas from 35 yards.
Academy hit back within two minutes. Strathspey were
punished for some hesitant defending as Richard Macadie nicked possession and
took the ball round keeper Andis Klarkins before slotting it into the net.
Academy forged in front four minutes after the break when a
long ball from Stevie Cunningham was knocked down by Gary Weir into the path of
Sam Mackay, who twisted his way past a couple of defenders before bending it
round Klarkins and into the net.
Academy's third came from the penalty spot just after the
hour mark after Klarkins had brought down Mackay in the box. Mackay made no
mistake from the spot for his second goal of the afternoon.
The only disappointing aspect of the game for Academy was
the dismissal of substitute Joe Steven with 10 minutes to go following an off-the-ball
incident with Fraser Tulloch.
Fraserburgh relinquished top spot when they were held to a
3-3 draw by Formartine United in a dramatic encounter at Bellslea
Park.
Steve Paterson's side battled back from three down to level
things up before their keeper Derek Soutar saved an injury-time penalty to
ensure the game finished all square.
Fraserburgh were two up at half-time courtesy of William
West and Allan Hale, and when West added his second the points looked safe for
Kris Hunter's men.
However, goals by Stuart Smith and Mark Smith got Formartine
right back in it before Connor Rennie grabbed the equaliser the dying stages.
Fraserburgh had a chance to snatch all three points when
they were awarded a spot-kick deep in stoppage time, but Soutar kept out Hale's
effort.
Nairn
County are the new leaders,
following a comfortable 4-0 victory over Huntly at Christie Park.
Leading through Wayne Mackintosh's first-half strike, Nairn
wrapped up the points with three more in the closing quarter of an hour. Steven
Mackay came off the bench to net twice before Robbie Duncanson rounded off the
scoring.
Joining Nairn on the nine-point mark are Cove, Buckie and
Inverurie.
Danny Milne hit a hat-trick in Cove's 6-0 stroll against Fort
William at Allan Park. Paul
Emslie and Daniel Park were also on target, while Cove keeper Stuart McKenzie
managed to get on the scoresheet when a long clearance bounced over his
opposite number Sergio Soto.
Clark Bain's early goal was enough to give Locos a 1-0
victory at Keith, while Buckie got back on track after their defeat at Wick
with a 4-0 home win against Brora. David Macrae, Gary Clark, Paul Napier and
Zander Sutherland got the goals.
Turriff led twice in the first half at Forres only for the
Can-Cans to come battling back for a 4-2 win.
Mark Cowie's opener was cancelled out by Scott Moore. Ross
Anderson restored Turriff's lead but Forres took charge with second-half goals
from Lee Fraser, Simon Allan (penalty) and Kyle Scott.
Clach bounced back from their North Cup shoot-out defeat to
Halkirk United with a morale-boosting 3-0 win against Deveronvale at Grant
Street Park.
The goals came from Gordon Morrison (penalty), Alan Pollock and Sam Urquhart,
all in the second half.
Vale's Graeme Rodger was sent off in the closing stages.
Lossiemouth kept their third clean sheet in a row as they
fought out a goalless draw with Rothes at Mackessack
Park. Ashley Grant (Rothes)
and Martin McMullen (Lossie) were both given their marching orders.
