Highland League & HLC round-up
Saturday April 7th
Scorries show battling qualities to earn a point
Academy
showed real strength of character to recover from being a goal down and a man
down inside the opening 18 minutes to earn a 1-1 draw with Inverurie Locos at Harmsworth
Park.
Indeed the
Scorries could easily have snatched a dramatic victory after Locos themselves had
been reduced to 10 men in what proved to be a feisty and enthralling encounter.
Academy
were seeking revenge for their 3-0 defeat at Harlaw Park a week earlier – but
the home side looked to be very much up against it when they fell behind after
a quarter of an hour and had Joe Steven sent off three minutes later.
Locos' goal
came after Michael Gray blocked a Marc Young shot but Scott Begg – son of
former Academy stalwart Jocky – was on hand to lash the ball high into the net.
In the 18th
minute it got worse for the Scorries when Steven was shown a straight red by
referee Martin Kerrigan for a wild challenge on John Maitland, who was replaced
shortly after.
Academy
produced a spirited response, however, and got themselves level in the 33rd
minute when Stevie Cunningham turned in the box and drove a shot inside Andy
Reid's left-hand post.
After
Inverurie's Clark Bain was dismissed for a second bookable offence on 65
minutes, there was a growing sense that Academy might just go on and win it.
Sam Mackay
came close when he charged through and got in a shot only to be denied by
Reid's trailing leg, although Locos remained dangerous. Gray produced a couple
of outstanding saves and Craig Ross hit a post with a ferocious volley.
Davie Allan
came agonisingly close in the third minute of stoppage time when he raced clear
down the right and placed the ball beyond Reid but it drifted just wide of the
far post.
Stewart
Ross was a worthy winner of the sponsors' man of the match award. Ross Allan
was another outstanding performer, while Martin Gunn – one week after
announcing his decision to retire at the end of the season – turned in a
vintage display in the middle of the park. His range of passing was a joy to
watch, in particular a sensational long-range diagonal ball that released
Mackay up the right wing to create a chance for Allan.
Nairn
County moved to within five points of second
place after a 3-0 victory over Brora at Dudgeon
Park.
Brora held
out until midway through the second half when Craig MacMillan put County in
front. Paul Macleod added a second and Robbie Duncanson completed the scoring.
Having
conceded nine to Nairn in midweek, Fort
William suffered another heavy home
defeat as they were beaten 6-1 by Fraserburgh.
There were
doubles for Scott Barbour and Graham Johnston, with Courtney Cooper and William
West also on the scoresheet for the Broch before Logan Barker got a consolation
goal for the Lochaber men.
Fort keeper
Robbie Donaldson had earlier saved a Dean Cowie penalty.
Huntly and
Clach drew 2-2 at Christie Park, with home keeper Neil Hastie saving a late
penalty to deny his former team all three points.
The
Strathbogie side led twice through Michael Fyfe and David Booth only to be
pegged back by goals from Chris Ross and Michael Finnis.
Finnis then
had a chance to seal victory for Clach from the penalty spot but Hastie kept it
out.
Goals by
Ruari Watt and Matthew Fraser gave Rothes a 2-0 win against Strathspey Thistle
in Grantown.
In the
Breedon Aggregates Highland League Cup, Buckie's Andy Gardiner struck in the
dying stages of extra time to secure a 2-1 victory over Deveronvale at Victoria
Park.
Mike
McKenzie's early opener for Vale had been cancelled out before half-time by
Martin Charlesworth. Buckie's Lewis Mackinnon was sent off in the second half
but the 10 men held firm and Gardiner sealed the win just as penalties looked
inevitable.
League
leaders Forres Mechanics were knocked out on penalties by Keith at Mosset
Park. The tie finished 1-1 after
extra time, with Willie Barron scoring for Forres and Andy Anderson replying
for the Maroons, and Keith went on to win the shoot-out 4-3.
Cove made
sure of their semi-final berth with a 4-0 home win against Lossiemouth courtesy
of Ryan Stott (2), Martin Johnston and Jamie Beagrie.
A goal from
Gary Harris was enough to give Turriff a 1-0 victory over Formartine at The
Haughs in the other quarter-final.
