Highland League round-up
Saturday August 18th
Vale take over at the top as Scorries are humbled
Wick Academy's reign at the top of the table came to
an ignominious end as they were humbled 6-0 by Deveronvale at Princess Royal
Park. It was the Scorries' heaviest league defeat for eight years, and hardly
the ideal preparation for this weekend's trip to Edinburgh to take on Spartans
in the Scottish Cup.
Academy were up against it from the second minute when
Kris Duncan headed home from close range in the aftermath of a corner. Graeme
Watt doubled the lead with a powerful effort in the 26th minute, and 11 minutes
later Duncan ran on to a through ball to grab his second of the afternoon.
Craig Morrison added another four minutes into the
second half, nodding home from Michele Lombardi's cross, and Lombardi
side-footed the fifth after 62 minutes. Academy's misery was complete in the
69th minute when Watt's delivery was headed in by Morrison for his second.
It was the first time Academy had lost by a six-goal
margin in a league match since being thumped 6-0 at Nairn in August 2004.
The result allowed Vale to take over at the top on
goal difference from three other clubs on the seven-point mark – Formartine
United, Cove Rangers and Clach.
Formartine swept to a 7-0 victory over Rothes at
Mackessack Park with seven different players on the scoresheet. Mike Ewen and
Hamish Munro struck in the first half and there were further goals after the
break from Mark Smith, Daniel Park, Neil McVitie, Callum Dingwall and Calum Bagshaw.
Cove had a comfortable 4-0 win at home to Lossiemouth.
First-half goals from Jordan Leyden, Blair Yule and Martin Johnston had the
Allan Park side well in control and Danny Milne headed in the fourth soon after
the interval.
Clach halted Huntly's 100 per cent start with a 2-1
victory at Christie Park.
Alan Pollock put the Lilywhites in front with a
cross-cum-shot with a quarter of an hour gone, and Martin Callum fired in their
second just after the hour mark. Huntly pulled one back late on with a header
from Barry Somers.
There was jubilation for Strathspey Thistle as they
recorded their first away win since joining the HFL, Mateusz Bobrowski netting
twice in a 2-1 victory over Turriff United at The Haughs.
Bobrowski opened the scoring from the penalty spot
after 14 minutes following a foul on Marc Macdonald by home keeper Andy Reid.
The Polish frontman put the Grantown Jags two up after 51 minutes before Nick
Gray reduced the deficit.
Strathspey's Joe Hardie saw red just after the hour
mark but the 10 men held on for a famous win.
The champions Forres Mechanics had to rely on a late
penalty to earn a 1-1 draw with Fraserburgh at Mosset Park.
Scott Barbour put the Broch ahead with a fine solo
effort on 27 minutes and they looked to be on course for an impressive away
win. However, with four minutes to go, Neil Main was adjudged to have committed
a foul in the box and Scott Lawrie slotted home the resultant penalty.
Fraserburgh's Steven Davidson was given his marching
orders in stoppage time after a second yellow-card offence.
Brora Rangers suffered their first league defeat of
the season as they were beaten 1-0 at Buckie, David MacRae scoring on the
half-hour mark with a spectacular long-range shot. The Cattachs had been
awarded a first-minute penalty after a foul on Liam Baxter, but Steven Mackay's
effort was saved by Buckie keeper Kevin Main.
Conor Gethins struck twice as Nairn County eased to a
5-1 win at Fort William. Dave Watson, Robbie Duncanson and Steven Ellis were
also on target for Nairn, with Fort's Darren Quigg pulling one back from the
penalty spot.
Inverurie Locos were 3-1 winners over Keith at Harlaw
Park. John Maitland, Jack Strachan and Scott Begg netted for the home side
before Stuart Walker headed home a consolation goal for the Maroons.
