Highland League round-up
Saturday January 28th
Weir double as Scorries move up to 10th
Gary Weir's first-half double set Academy on their way to a
3-1 victory over Fort William
at Claggan Park,
a result that lifts the Scorries up to 10th place in the Highland League table.
Weir, restored to the starting line-up at the expense of
Stewart Ross, came close after 10 minutes when his drive was tipped over by
Fort keeper Stewart Gray.
Three minutes later the striker made the breakthrough when
he fired the ball past Gray, with the aid of a deflection from Ian Foggo,
following good build-up play by Stevie Cunningham and Davie Allan.
Weir was at it again on 20 minutes, curling a right-foot
shot high into net for his 65th league goal – putting him second equal with
Martin Gunn in the list of HFL scorers for the club.
Weir was fancying his chances of a hat-trick and he tried a
lofted effort which was well saved by Gray before Richard Macadie tested the
busy Fort keeper with a well-taken free kick.
Fort's Iain MacLellan sent a shot over the top from 15
yards, then at the other end Gray had to be alert to deny Sam Mackay.
The home side didn't manage a shot on target until three
minutes into the second half when Michael Gray pulled off a good save from Sean
Ellis's 25-yard shot.
The Lochaber outfit reduced the deficit in the 52nd minute.
A corner by Ellis was only partially cleared, and when the ball broke to Darren
Duncan 25 yards out he sent an unstoppable shot into the net.
At the other end, Stewart Gray kept out efforts from Mackay
and Allan before the Scorries wrapped up the points with 10 minutes to go.
Macadie delivered a corner from the right and the ball eventually fell to
Mackay, who volleyed it home from the edge of the box.
Macadie almost added a fourth but his dipping volley hit the
crossbar.
The result completed a double for Academy against Fort
William this term, following on from
the 8-1 rout at Harmsworth
Park in September. However, Duncan's
goal means the Scorries go into February with still just one clean sheet in
2011/12 – earned in the 2-0 away victory over Formartine United at the end of
October.
Cove Rangers moved to within two points of Forres at the top
of the table after a 3-0 victory over Lossiemouth.
It took an own goal to break the deadlock at Grant Park,
Kevin Flett diverting the ball past keeper Darren McConnachie to put Cove in
front two minutes into the second half.
The visitors doubled their advantage after 70 minutes when
McConnachie parried a shot from Richie Singer only for Martin Johnston to force
the ball home from close range. Jordan Leyden rounded off the scoring on 81
minutes.
A stoppage-time penalty by Mike McKenzie earned a share of
the points for Deveronvale in their game against Fraserburgh at Bellslea
Park. It was McKenzie's
second spot-kick attempt, having blazed one over the bar in the first half when
Vale were leading through Graeme Rodger's 29th-minute strike.
Broch substitute Scott Barbour slotted home the equaliser
after 68 minutes and Ryan Christie put the home side in front with eight
minutes left. However, McKenzie's last-gasp penalty tied it up at 2-2.
Huntly recovered from the loss of a first-minute goal to beat
Keith 3-1 at Kynoch
Park.
There were just 45 seconds gone when Dean Donaldson netted
the opener but Huntly got themselves level after 13 minutes when a header from
Barry Somers hit a post before going in off Keith keeper Andy Shearer.
Andrzej Kleczkowski made it 2-1 to the visitors after 56
minutes and David Booth completed the scoring five minutes later.
A second-half goal by Jerry O'Driscoll was enough to give
Turriff United a 1-0 win against Brora at The Haughs.
The other four scheduled fixtures fell victim to frozen
pitches.
