Highland League round-up
Saturday February 18th
Sam at the double as Academy withstand Forres fightback
Sam Mackay inspired Academy to a thrilling victory over
title-chasing Forres Mechanics at a wintry Harmsworth Park.
Mackay hit a well-taken double as the Scorries stormed
into a 3-0 lead before the Can-Cans pulled back a couple of goals to set up a
nervy finale.
This was the Scorries' first home game in two months and
they made up for lost time by taking the lead inside the first minute. Ross
Allan swept in a low cross from wide on the left and his brother Davie touched
it into the net from close range for his 14th goal of the campaign.
Academy gave themselves a two-goal cushion a couple of
minutes before half-time. Davie Allan showed great determination to retain
possession on the edge of the box before laying the ball off to Mackay, who
took a touch before firing it inside Stuart Knight's left-hand post.
Forres saw a lot more of the ball in the early stages of
the second period, but Academy regained their composure and in 53 minutes Craig
Shearer saw a shot come off the base of a post.
The third goal was delayed only by a matter of seconds as
Mackay raced through to beat Knight with a cool finish.
The Can-Cans pulled one back on 66 minutes when Kyle
Scott burst through and drilled the ball beyond Michael Gray.
Knight prevented a fourth Wick goal when he tipped over a
shot from Richard Macadie after a brilliant set-up by man-of-the-match Mackay.
Forres grabbed a second on 88 minutes. Ross MacPherson
found himself in space 25 yards out and he despatched a superb shot past the
diving Gray.
Nathan Sharp almost grabbed a dramatic equaliser in the
fourth minute of stoppage time with a header that came off the top of the
crossbar. But the Scorries held on to make it eight wins from their last 12
games as they moved up to eighth in the table.
Cove Rangers edged two points clear at the top after a
2-2 draw with Keith at Allan Park, although second-placed Forres have a couple
of games in hand.
Martin Johnston put Cove ahead with an 11th-minute volley
but a minute later the Maroons were awarded a penalty and Cammy Keith duly
tucked it away. The visitors then went in front on 16 minutes courtesy of Scott
Fowlie, only for Cove's Stirling Smith to level things up on the half-hour
mark.
The biggest surprise of the day was at Buckie, where
bottom club Strathspey Thistle came back from two goals down to earn only their
second point this term.
Mateusz Bobrowski was the hero for the Grantown Jags,
netting both their goals after Mark Chisholm and Shawn Scott had put the
defending champions two up inside the opening 12 minutes.
Bobrowski pulled one back in first-half injury time and
the Polish striker netted again midway through the second period. Buckie were
limited to a handful of chances thereafter and it ended 2-2.
Graham Johnston helped himself to a first-half hat-trick
as Fraserburgh eased to 5-1 victory over Turriff United at Bellslea. Peter
Alexander Bruce and Dean Cowie were also on target for the Broch before Turriff
pulled one back when a Jerry O'Driscoll effort hit the crossbar and went in off
keeper Paul Leask.
Formartine United were 3-0 winners over Huntly at North
Lodge Park. Following a goalless first half, Kyle Macaulay struck twice before
Calum Bagshaw rounded off the scoring.
Lossiemouth moved above Huntly into ninth place after a
2-0 win against Brora Rangers at Dudgeon Park. The goals came inside a
six-minute spell in the first half, Brora's Stuart Golabek turning the ball
into his own net for the opener before Ross Archibald punished another slip to
double Lossie's advantage.
Nicky Gordon's second-half strike was enough to give
Inverurie Locos a 1-0 away victory over Deveronvale.
