Highland League round-up
Saturday February 11th
Academy up to ninth after brilliant win at Bellslea
Academy produced another brilliant away performance as they
swept to a 3-1 victory over Fraserburgh – a result that lifts the Scorries to
ninth in the Highland League table ahead of the eagerly anticipated home clash
with title-chasing Forres.
Strikes from Davie Allan, Stevie Cunningham and Richard
Macadie gave the Scorries a three-goal cushion before Dean Cowie netted a late
consolation for the Broch from the penalty spot.
Academy had to wait until season 2009/10 for their first
away victory against Fraserburgh, but this result means they have now won twice
on their last three visits to Bellslea
Park.
The opener came in the sixth minute when, not for the first
time this term, Davie Allan proved too hot to handle for an opposing defence.
Sprinting on to a fine pass from Sam Mackay, Allan collided with keeper Paul
Leask but the striker was quickly on his feet to tap in his 13th goal
of the season.
Allan turned provider for the second goal, seven minutes
into the second half, as he teed the ball up for Cunningham to drill a low shot
beyond Leask.
Academy extended their lead after 63 minutes. A free kick by
Mackay was headed against a post by Michael Steven and Macadie was first to
react to the rebound, netting from 15 yards.
In the last minute Michael Gray was denied what would have
been a well-deserved clean sheet when Shaun Sinclair was adjudged to have
fouled Allan Hale in the box. Cowie stepped up to score from the spot.
Forres suffered a setback in their quest for the title when
they were beaten 4-2 at Huntly. It means Charlie Rowley's side come to
Harmsworth Park trailing Cove by a point, although the Can-Cans do have two
games in hand over the Allan Park outfit.
Huntly were gifted a fourth-minute lead through a Simon
Allan own goal. Willie Barron levelled after 26 minutes, but a minute later
David Booth restored Huntly's advantage and he was on target again on the
stroke of half-time.
Allan's day went from bad to worse when he had a penalty
saved by Neil Hastie soon after the break. Gary Tweedie reduced the deficit on
54 minutes but Huntly's Andrzej-Slawomir Kleczkowski struck in stoppage time to
wrap up the points.
Cove took over at the top thanks to a 3-0 win at Rothes,
with all the goals coming in the second half.
Jamie Beagrie made the breakthrough with a spectacular
overhead kick. Martin Johnston added a second before Daniel Park rounded off
the scoring.
Neil Gauld hit a hat-trick as Inverurie Locos thumped Brora
Rangers 6-1 at Harlaw
Park.
Steven Park and John Maitland had Locos two up before Gauld
grabbed his first of the afternoon before half-time. Gauld hit two more after
the break, either side of a Liam Baxter penalty for Brora, before Mark Young
added Inverurie's sixth.
Cammy Keith struck twice as Keith came from behind to record
an emphatic 5-1 victory over Formartine at Kynoch
Park.
Kyle Macaulay gave the visitors an early lead but Sean Keith
levelled things up before the interval. Andy MacAskill put the home side ahead
before Cammy Keith netted from the penalty spot for the first of his double.
Andy Anderson was also on target for the Maroons.
Martin Charlesworth got the decisive goal in Buckie's 3-2
away win against Lossiemouth, the team managed by his father Charlie.
Liam Archibald's opener for Lossie was cancelled out by a
Zander Sutherland spot-kick. David MacRae put the Jags ahead before the break
and Charlesworth struck with 10 minutes left to give the champions a two-goal
cushion. Lossie's Martin McMullan pulled one back but the Jags held on.
Turriff United were 5-0 winners at against Fort
William. There were two
goals each for Michael Taylor and Gary Harris, with Jerry O'Driscoll also on
target.
