Highland League round-up – Saturday August 27th
Frustrating day for Scorries as Rothes hold on
Academy’s hopes of a third win on the trot came to nothing
as they suffered a frustrating 2-1 defeat to Rothes at Mackessack
Park.
The Scorries fell behind when Sean McIntosh nodded in the
opener after 11 minutes and Rothes doubled their lead in the 33rd minute when a
looping header from Michael Fletcher went in off a post.
David Allan reduced the deficit nine minutes later, netting
from close range after a cross from the left by Gary Manson.
Academy dominated for long spells after the break but they
couldn’t find a second goal as the Speysiders held on for all three points.
From an Academy perspective, it was all too reminiscent of
the recent encounter with Lossiemouth – a quick return to the scene of a 5-0
away win towards the end of last season, only to lose by a single-goal margin
despite having created more than enough chances to win the match comfortably.
Deveronvale travel to Harmsworth
Park today buoyed by an
emphatic 5-0 home win against Brora Rangers.
Mike McKenzie opened the scoring three minutes from
half-time and Grant Noble doubled their lead five minutes into the second
period. Mark Chisholm quickly added a third, with substitutes David Smith and
Stephen Jack adding further goals late on.
Buckie Thistle went one better with a 6-0 victory over Fort
William at Claggan
Park – a result that lifted
the reigning champions to the top of the table.
Paul Napier led the way early on with a double and Lewis
Mackinnon added a third before the break. Second-half goals from David Macrae,
Zander Sutherland and Andy Low rounded off an easy win for the Jags.
Fraserburgh are one point behind the leaders following a
dramatic 5-3 victory over Clachnacuddin at Bellslea
Park.
The Broch stormed into a four-goal lead through Peter
Alexander Bruce, Ryan Christie, Robert Morrice and Graham Johnston. Clach then
mounted a comeback, with goals from Martin Callum, Scott Morrison and Gordon
Morrison taking the score to 4-3, but Johnston
had the final say as he netted Fraserburgh’s fifth late on.
Remarkably, two of the goals – Morrice for Fraserburgh and
Scott Morrison for Clach – came direct from corner kicks.
Forres Mechanics were 2-0 winners over Inverurie Locos at Harlaw
Park. Nathan Sharp headed in
the opener midway through the first half and Simon Allan netted a penalty just
before the hour mark.
First-half goals from Ross Naismith and Russell Guild set
Huntly on their way to a 2-1 win against Lossiemouth at Grant Park. A late own
goal by Alex Thoirs gave Lossie some hope, but they were unable to force an
equaliser.
Turriff United’s Jerry O’Driscoll came back to haunt his
former club by scoring twice in a 2-2 draw with Cove Rangers at The Haughs.
O’Driscoll headed the home side into an early lead only for
Cove to turn things round in the closing stages of the first half with goals
from Martin Johnston and Danny Milne.
Just as Cove looked to have done enough to come away with
all three points, O’Driscoll popped up with a stoppage-time leveller.
The match between Nairn
County and Formartine United at Station
Park also ended in a 2-2
draw.
Martin MacDonald’s first-half opener for Nairn was cancelled
out by a Bobby Mann free kick. Mann got his second of the afternoon from the
penalty spot before Nairn’s David Watson ensured a share of the spoils.
Keith had to withstand a late fightback to secure a 3-2 win
against Strathspey Thistle at Seafield
Park. Strikes from Craig
McGovern, Dean Donaldson and Jamie Lennox put the Maroons in the driving seat
before the Grantown Jags rallied with goals by Joe Hardie and Craig Rothney.
