Highland League round-up
FridaySaturday December 30th31st
Cove cut Can-Cans' lead to two points
Cove Rangers moved to within two points of top spot in the
Highland League after a comfortable 3-0 victory over 10-man Fraserburgh at Bellslea
Park on Saturday.
The visitors were leading through a ninth-minute header from
Paul Emslie when Fraserburgh's Ryan Christie was red-carded for a last-man foul
shortly before half-time. A second-half double by Danny Milne, on 62 and 68
minutes, wrapped up the points for Cove.
The leaders, Forres Mechanics, suffered a setback in their
title bid when they went down 2-1 to Nairn
County at Station
Park in one of five Friday
night fixtures.
Steven Mackay put Nairn in front three minutes before
half-time and Steven Ellis doubled their lead in the 70th minute. Willie Barron
reduced the deficit with two minutes to go but Nairn held on to avenge their
4-0 hammering at Mosset Park a week earlier.
The Can-Cans' lead is now down to two points, although they
have two games in hand over Cove.
Deveronvale twice came from behind to beat Buckie Thistle
3-2 at Princess Royal Park.
Buckie took the lead through Martin Charlesworth after 35
minutes only for Craig Cowie to equalise on the stroke of half-time. Jamie
Shewan restored the Jags' advantage two minutes into the second half but Vale
levelled things up again with a Scott Fraser spot-kick after 62 minutes.
The decisive goal came two minutes later when Shewan
deflected a cross into his own net.
Inverurie Locos also had to come from behind before running
out 3-1 winners over Huntly at Harlaw
Park.
Huntly's Barry Somers opened the scoring from the penalty
spot after 22 minutes but Locos were level three minutes later courtesy of
Craig Ross. Andy Low put the home side ahead four minutes from the interval and
he added his second of the night with seven minutes remaining.
Keith were another side who recovered from the loss of the
opening goal to earn all three points as they overcame Lossiemouth 4-2 at Grant
Park.
Nikki Smith netted the opener for Lossie midway through the
first half but the Maroons were soon level through Cammy Keith and Jamie Lennox
added their second just before half-time.
Kevin Flett got Lossie back on level terms early in the
second period only for Sean Keith to produce an instant response to restore the
visitors' lead. Cammy Keith rounded off the scoring on the hour mark.
Second-half goals by Jerry O'Driscoll and Gary Harris
secured a 2-0 win for Turriff United in their tussle with Formartine United at
The Haughs.
The wins for Deveronvale and Turriff allowed both those
clubs to move above Wick
Academy, with the Scorries
dropping to 11th.
Academy's scheduled home clash with Brora Rangers was called
off on Friday as Harmsworth
Park was waterlogged. Two
other fixtures – Strathspey Thistle v Rothes and Fort
William v Clach – also fell
victim to the weather.
Highland League fixtures for Saturday, January 7: Brora
Rangers v Deveronvale; Buckie Thistle v Fort William; Clachnacuddin v
Fraserburgh; Cove Rangers v Turriff United; Formartine United v Nairn County;
Forres Mechanics v Inverurie Locos; Huntly v Lossiemouth; Keith v Strathspey
Thistle; Wick Academy v Rothes.
