Highland League round-up
Saturday March 31st
Academy lose out on final away-day of season
of away points for 2011/12 as their last trip of the campaign ended in a 3-0
defeat to Inverurie Locos.
The Scorries had won on three of their previous four visits
to Harlaw Park
but ended up well beaten on this occasion. However, Davie Kirkwood's side will
have an early opportunity for revenge as the teams meet again at Harmsworth
Park this weekend.
It was a special occasion for Martin Gunn, who had announced
his decision to retire at the end of the season and who was therefore making
his last away appearance for the club after 18 years of loyal service.
With Grant Steven, Michael Steven and Alan Farquhar all
unavailable, there were key defensive roles for Craig Shearer, Stewart Ross and
Shaun Sinclair.
Academy pressed hard in the early stages but it was Locos
who broke the deadlock on 36 minutes with a breakaway goal. Academy had won a
free kick in the Inverurie half, but it was cleared to Marc Young who sent Neil
Gauld racing clear. Gauld laid it off to Clark Bain, who beat Michael Gray from
seven yards.
Locos doubled their advantage after 56 minutes with a looping
header from Young. Gray got his fingertips to the ball but was unable to keep
it out.
Substitute Andy Low rounded off the scoring in the last
minute when he found the top corner with a curling free kick.
Forres Mechanics took another huge step towards the title
when they beat Brora Rangers 4-1 while nearest challengers Cove Rangers had to
rely on a last-minute goal to salvage a draw against Clach.
Brora looked to have done enough to keep the scoresheet blank
at the interval at Mosset
Park, where the Can-Cans are
unbeaten all season. However, two goals in first-half stoppage time – from
Kevin Duguid and Kyle Scott – put Forres in the driving seat.
Willie Barron fired home the third on the hour mark and Ryan
Green extended their lead in the 79th minute before Brora's Ryan Rutherford got
a consolation goal right at the end.
Cove, who had drawn 1-1 at Wick the previous week, had to
settle for a repeat of that result in their home game against Clach.
Alan Pollock gave the Lilywhites a third-minute lead and
they looked like holding out for all three points until Michael Taylor headed
home the equaliser in the 90th minute.
Forres now hold a nine-point advantage at the top of the
table, although Cove still have a game in hand.
Mateusz Bobrowski's stoppage-time strike gave Strathspey
Thistle a 1-0 victory over Turriff United at Seafield
Park. The result allowed the
Grantown Jags to move five points clear of Fort
William, who went down 5-2
at Keith.
The Lochaber men gave as good as they got in the first half
with goals from Danny Macintosh and Iain Maclellan either side of a Cammy Keith
double for the Maroons.
Andy MacAskill put the home side 3-2 up before Cammy Keith
completed his hat-trick to make the points safe. Andy Anderson rounded off the
scoring late on.
A second-half goal by David Booth was enough to give Huntly
a 1-0 home win against managerless Deveronvale, who had Scott Fraser sent off.
Buckie Thistle had to be content with a share of the points
on their visit to Formartine United. Martin Charlesworth put the Jags in front
after 21 minutes but Andrew Bagshaw levelled on the half-hour mark and it
finished 1-1.
Goals from Steven Mackay and David Hind gave Nairn
County a 2-0 victory over
Lossiemouth at Grant Park. Lossie's JJ Urquhart was sent off early in the
second half.
Rothes and Fraserburgh drew 1-1 at Mackessack
Park. Scott Barbour's opener
for the Broch was cancelled out by Sean McIntosh.
