Highland League round-up
Saturday August 11th
Academy show true grit to stay on top
Wick Academy showed real grit and determination as they came
from behind to beat Buckie Thistle 2-1, maintaining their place at the top of
the Highland League table as one of only two clubs with a 100 per cent record
from their first two fixtures.
In a game of relatively few clear-cut chances, the Scorries'
workrate and battling qualities came to the fore. Resolute defending by Ross
Allan, Grant Steven and Alan Farquhar, backed by the commanding presence of
Michael Gray in goal, provided the platform for the home side to earn all
three points after the Jags had opened the scoring with a penalty.
The Scorries struggled to get out of their own half for long
spells in the first half and it didn't come as a huge surprise when Buckie
forged in front in the 24th minute. Shawn Scott was bundled over by Steven in
front of goal and Zander Sutherland sent Gray the wrong way from the spot.
Academy got themselves level five minutes later when Gary
Manson swung a cross into the box and the ball broke to Lukasz Geruzel, who
instantly fired it high into the net.
The winner came after 77 minutes when Academy worked the
ball down the left and Geruzel knocked it on to Davie Allan. The striker was on
to it in a flash, burying his first-time shot low past Kevin Main.
The result extends Academy's unbeaten home run in the league
to 13 games.
Huntly joined the Scorries on the six-point mark after a
fine 3-1 victory at Nairn.
Russell Guild put Huntly ahead on 16 minutes and their new
Polish signing, Lukasz Stasiak, doubled the advantage two minutes before
half-time. Nairn reduced the deficit with a deflected effort from Robbie
Duncanson after 54 minutes but Guild made sure of the win with a quarter of an
hour remaining.
Clach and Inverurie Locos served up a six-goal thriller at Grant
Street Park.
John Maitland put the visitors ahead midway through the
first half with an unstoppable free kick, but Blair Lawrie equalised with a
looping shot right at the start of the second half and Alan Pollock netted two
penalties to put the Lilywhites 3-1 up with 20 minutes to go.
Maitland headed in his second goal of the afternoon and Jack
Strachan forced the ball home in stoppage time to ensure a share of the points.
The new-look Brora Rangers had another early test of their
credentials as a team capable of challenging for the title as they took on last
season's runners-up, Cove Rangers, at Dudgeon
Park. Liam Baxter gave Brora
the lead after 25 minutes but Blair Yule levelled in the 57th minute and it
ended 1-1.
Scott Barbour helped himself to a hat-trick and Ryan
Christie scored with an amazing long-distance lob as Fraserburgh swept to a 6-0
victory over Fort William
at Bellslea Park.
Graham Johnston and Scott Fowlie got the other goals.
Cammy Keith was another hat-trick hero, with his brother
Sean also getting on the scoresheet, as Keith recovered from being a goal down
to beat Rothes 4-2 at Kynoch Park. Stuart Massie and Sean McIntosh were on
target for the Speysiders.
Second-half goals by Scott Lawrie, Ryan Green and Nathan
Sharp gave Forres Mechanics a 3-0 win at Lossiemouth. Deveronvale won by the
same score against Strathspey Thistle at Seafield Park, with Craig Morrison and
Kris Duncan finding the net either side of a Scott Fraser penalty.
Formartine United were 2-1 winners over near neighbours
Turriff United at North
Lodge Park.
Tommy Wilson and Callum Dingwall scored for the home side before Turriff's Dave
McKenzie halved the deficit.
Fixtures for Saturday, August 18 – Highland League: Buckie
Thistle v Brora Rangers; Cove Rangers v Lossiemouth; Deveronvale v Wick
Academy; Forres Mechanics v Fraserburgh; Fort William v Nairn County; Huntly v
Clachnacuddin; Inverurie Locos v Keith; Rothes v Formartine United; Turriff
United v Strathspey Thistle.
