Highland League round-up
Saturday March 24th
Scorries are denied victory by Stott's late strike
Academy were denied a victory over title hopefuls Cove
Rangers as Ryan Stott hit a late equaliser to earn his side a 1-1 draw at
Harmsworth Park. Nevertheless the Scorries could feel well pleased with their
overall performance, having conceded 10 goals in their previous two games, and
indeed for a spell it looked as though Davie Allan's 65th-minute strike would
be enough to secure all three points.
With Sam Mackay ruled out through suspension, Richard
Macadie was handed the captain's armband as he made his 200th Highland League
appearance for the club.
Cove came close to taking the lead in the fifth minute
when Jordan Leyden's cross presented Martin Johnston with a free header, but
Michael Gray pulled off a superb save to turn the ball over the bar. Two minutes
later Cove passed up another gilt-edged chance as Johnston sent a shot wide
with the goal at his mercy.
Johnston squandered another opportunity before Academy
had their first decent attempt on target, Gary Weir setting up an opening for
Macadie whose right-foot effort was saved by Stuart McKenzie.
Cove, aiming to keep pace with Forres Mechanics at the
top of the table, continued to look the more dangerous side after the break.
However, Academy began to see more of the ball and they
forged in front when Allan raced on to a diagonal pass over the visitors' back
line. With McKenzie coming out to narrow the angle, Allan drove the ball low
into the corner of the net from 18 yards for his 20th goal of the campaign.
Cove threw everything at Academy in the closing stages
and they grabbed the leveller with five minutes remaining. Gray did well to
block a shot that came through a ruck of bodies, but substitute Stott was on
hand to fire the loose ball into the net.
Forres opened up a four-point gap at the top of the table
with a 2-1 away victory over double champions Buckie Thistle.
Kyle Scott headed the Can-Cans in front after 10 minutes
only for Buckie's Hamish Munro to equalise just before the break. By that stage
Forres were down to 10 men following the dismissal of their keeper Stuart
Knight.
The Can-Cans buckled down to the task, though, and Scott
Moore struck the winner in the 68th minute.
Academy's next opponents, Inverurie Locos, had an
impressive 3-1 win at Nairn.
Clark Bain's first-minute opener for Inverurie was
cancelled out by Conor Gethins, but Craig Ross restored the visitors' advantage
before Bain sealed the points with his second of the afternoon.
Brora Rangers enjoyed a morale-boosting 2-1 victory over
Huntly at Dudgeon Park. First-half goals from Chris Moir and Gary Kerr put the
Sutherland outfit in control before Barry Somers reduced the deficit late on.
Fraserburgh came from a goal down to win 4-1 against
Strathspey Thistle at Bellslea.
Mateusz Bobrowski gave the Grantown Jags a surprise lead
but the Broch responded with goals from Ryan Christie (penalty), Scott Barbour,
Bryan Hay and Zak Conway.
Goals from Scott Graham and Alan Pollock were enough to
give Clachnacuddin a 2-0 home win against Formartine United.
Cammy Keith struck twice, the second from the penalty
spot, as Keith beat Deveronvale 2-1 at Princess Royal Park. Vale's goal came
from a Mike McKenzie spot-kick.
Turriff United keeper Stephen Coutts pulled off a
last-minute penalty save to ensure his side took a point from their home match
against Lossiemouth.
Gary Harris put Turriff in front midway through the first
half but Nikki Smith levelled from the penalty spot with a quarter of an hour
to go.
Turriff player/manager Mark Simpson was shown the red
card before Smith's second spot-kick of the afternoon was diverted over the bar
by Coutts and it ended 1-1.
Fort William and Rothes fought out a 0-0 draw at Claggan
Park.
