Highland League & Scottish Cup 1st Round round-up
Saturday October 1st
Injury-time agony for 10-man Academy
Saturday October 1st
Injury-time agony for 10-man Academy
Ten-man Academy were denied a share of the points at Christie Park last Saturday as David Booth’s injury-time strike sealed a dramatic 2-1 victory for Huntly.
The game was billed as a meeting of two of the Highland League’s form sides, with the Scorries looking to continue the free-scoring style that had seen them bang in 17 goals in their previous two outings.
It started promisingly for the visitors when they grabbed the lead in the sixth minute.
Gary Weir played the ball up the wing to Stevie Cunningham and his cutback into the box was guided into the net by David Allan.
Gary Weir played the ball up the wing to Stevie Cunningham and his cutback into the box was guided into the net by David Allan.
Huntly were awarded a soft-looking penalty after 27 minutes when Cuningham was adjudged to have fouled Michael Fyfe in the box. Fyfe took the spot-kick himself and drove it low to Alan Bokas’s right.
Academy were reduced to 10 men with seven minutes remaining when Craig Shearer picked up his second yellow card of the afternoon.
And David Kirkwood’s men were punished in stoppage time when a cross found its way to substitute Booth, who kept his composure to beat Bokas and secure all three points for the Black and Golds.
And David Kirkwood’s men were punished in stoppage time when a cross found its way to substitute Booth, who kept his composure to beat Bokas and secure all three points for the Black and Golds.
It was a desperately disappointing end to the match for Academy, who had looked good value for a useful away point only to end up suffering their fourth defeat of the league campaign.
Nairn County took over top spot after a superb 6-0 victory over Brora Rangers at Station Park.
Summer signing Conor Gethins again underlined his value to Les Fridge’s side when he opened the scoring with a fine finish after 14 minutes. Steven Mackay doubled the lead with a 20th-minute penalty and Dale Gillespie added the third in 37 minutes.
Robbie Duncanson got in on the act eight minutes after the break, then Gethins fired home his second of the afternoon after 66 minutes. Mackay rounded off the scoring in stoppage time.
Summer signing Conor Gethins again underlined his value to Les Fridge’s side when he opened the scoring with a fine finish after 14 minutes. Steven Mackay doubled the lead with a 20th-minute penalty and Dale Gillespie added the third in 37 minutes.
Robbie Duncanson got in on the act eight minutes after the break, then Gethins fired home his second of the afternoon after 66 minutes. Mackay rounded off the scoring in stoppage time.
League champions Buckie Thistle slipped to a 2-0 defeat at Inverurie. Nicky Gordon put Locos in front with a penalty on the half-hour mark and Clark Bain wrapped up the points with a header midway through the second period.
Second-half goals by Martin Johnston and Danny Milne, the latter from the penalty spot, gave Cove Rangers a 2-0 victory over Strathspey Thistle at Seafield Park.
Buckie and Cove are now level on the 17-point mark, one point behind Nairn, as the top half of the table continues to have a very congested look to it.
Buckie and Cove are now level on the 17-point mark, one point behind Nairn, as the top half of the table continues to have a very congested look to it.
Clachnacuddin staged a remarkable comeback to beat Lossiemouth 3-2 at Grant Park after the Coasters had gone 2-1 up with just seven minutes left.
Ross Archibald’s first-half goal for Lossie was cancelled out by Sam Urquhart. Liam Archibald restored the Coasters’ lead but Alan Pollock’s last-minute equaliser for Clach was followed by a sensational winner by Colin Williamson deep in injury time.
Ross Archibald’s first-half goal for Lossie was cancelled out by Sam Urquhart. Liam Archibald restored the Coasters’ lead but Alan Pollock’s last-minute equaliser for Clach was followed by a sensational winner by Colin Williamson deep in injury time.
Formartine United were 4-1 winners over Rothes at Mackessack Park.
The visitors were awarded a penalty early on but Bobby Mann’s effort was saved by Ricky Horne. Mann soon amends, however, when he beat Horne with a free kick.
Sean McIntosh got the Speysiders back on level terms but Stuart McKay restored Formartine’s lead before the break and Michael McGinlay added a second-half double.
The visitors were awarded a penalty early on but Bobby Mann’s effort was saved by Ricky Horne. Mann soon amends, however, when he beat Horne with a free kick.
Sean McIntosh got the Speysiders back on level terms but Stuart McKay restored Formartine’s lead before the break and Michael McGinlay added a second-half double.
Turriff United recovered from being a goal down at the break to beat Deveronvale 3-1 at The Haughs. Jerry O’Driscoll, Ross Anderson and substitute Michael Taylor got the goals for Turriff after Vale’s Grant Noble had opened the scoring.
The two HFL clubs in Scottish Cup first-round action were both knocked out by strong opposition from the junior ranks.
Forres Mechanics held a 3-1 lead in the first half of their replay against Irvine Meadow in Ayrshire but the Can-Cans eventually succumbed to a 6-3 defeat.
Fort William were beaten 4-0 by Bo’ness United in their rearranged tie at Claggan Park.
