Highland League round-up – Saturday September 17th
Scorries' Eightsome Reel
The heroic efforts of ground staff and volunteers who pumped and mopped away hundreds of gallons of water to make Harmsworth Park playable were rewarded by a scintillating performance from Academy and an 8-1 win. Four goals in each half sunk luckless Fort William. Stevie Cunningham put the Scorries ahead in just four minutes but it was level pegging when Sean Ellis scored from the spot in the 17th minute. Cunningham soon restored the Wick lead and from then on it was one way traffic, Martin Gunn and Gary Weir also scoring before half time. Davie Allan with two. Grant Steven and Richard Macadie completed the rout.
Results elsewhere confirmed the view of those pundits who have been saying that the SHFL will be very competitive this season. Nairn County held leaders Buckie Thistle to a 2-2 draw at Victoria Park. Zander Sutherland's 15th minute header was all that Buckie had to show for their first half domination and Nairn rallied after the break. In the 62nd minute Conor Gethins equalised with a rebound effort when keeper Kevin Main could only push away a shot from Robbie Duncanson. Graham Stewart restored the Jags' lead five minutes later but ten minutes from time Gethins equalised again with a drive into the top corner of the net.
Forres Mechanics moved up to second in the table with a 3-0 home win over Rothes. Kyle Scott with two and Lee Fraser were the marksmen while ex Locos keeper Stewart Gray kept a clean sheet on his Forres debut.
At Dudgeon Park, Liam Baxter intercepted a back pass to score for Brora in the 8th minute – a lead which they held until the 51st minute when Turriff United scored twice in two minutes through Jerry O'Driscoll and Mark Cowie. Dave Mackenzie netted a third for the visitors before Baxter pulled one back for Brora. Baxter scorned a chance to equalise and Turriff hung on to win 3-2.
Inverurie Locos also won 3-2 away to Clachnacuddin. Marc Young and John Maitland had Locos two up but Clach sub Paul Brindle sprinted down the middle to reduce the deficit. Craig Ross restored Locos' two goal cushion before Sam Urquhart netted a late penalty kick.
Deveronvale beat Fraserburgh 2-0 at Princess Royal Park with goals from Scott Hendry in 4 minutes and Mark Chisholm on 83. This was Chisholm's 152nd and final goal for Vale before he moved to rivals Buckie.
Barry Somers bagged all four goals for Huntly against one of his former clubs Keith at Christie Park. Andrew McAskill headed the Maroons ahead after only two minutes but Somers made it 3-1 at the break and then 4-1 before a second yellow card for Jamie Lennox reduced Keith to ten men and McAskill netted an 80th minute consolation.
At Cove, referee Chris Spence sent off three of the home team and also banished Lossie manager Charlie Charlesworth to the stand. Lossie enjoyed a great start when Nikki Smith netted a 4th minute penalty and Martin McMullan scored on 20 minutes before Cove's Jordan Leyland made it 1-2 at the break. Ricki Wardrop's 48th minute goal sealed Lossie's 3-1 win.
