Saturday September 22nd
Title race warming up as seven of top eight win
It's ‘as you were' at the top of the SHFL with just one
point covering the top four who all won their games on Saturday.
Harmsworth
Park fans were treated to
another tremendous home win as Academy dumped Fraserburgh 4-1. Gary Manson
chipped the ball delicately over the head of Broch keeper Paul Leask from 25
yards on the half hour mark and 6 minutes later it was 2-0 when Gary Weir
headed in a Michael Steven cross via the post. Fraserburgh launched a fightback
in a full blooded second half and Scott Barbour reduced the deficit in the 70th
minute. Even with 10 men after the dismissal of Scott Fowlie the visitors still
threatened and it needed a great tackle by Grant Steven to prevent Barbour
netting an equaliser. The crowd roared for the introduction of substitute
striker Lucasz Geruzel and after flashing a header inches wide our Pole set up
the chance for our Orcadian James Pickles to lash in a third goal. An
immaculate last minute lob from Richard Macadie was the icing on the cake as
the Scorries notched a fourth successive win, a run which has produced 16
cracking goals.
League leaders Nairn
County took full points
away to an under strength Lossiemouth. Mike Morrison opened the Nairn account after
just 11 minutes with a 20 yard free kick and team mates Gregg Main and Connor
Gethins had first half shots saved by stand in keeper Errol Watson. In a lively
three minutes after the restart Gethins put Nairn two up but Lossie made it 2-1
when a high cross from Jamie Bagley was turned into his own net by Morrison. Five
minutes from time Gethins fired in his 12th goal of the season to
complete a 3-1 win.
Cove Rangers are also on the 16 point mark after a 2-1 home
win which saw Formartine United slip three places. The visitors' 13th
minute lead courtesy of Daniel Park was short-lived as Martin Johnston headed
an equaliser 3 minutes later and the Cove striker won the game with a low drive
7 minutes after the break.
Huntly kept up the pressure by beating Turriff United 2-1 at
Christie Park and are well placed with a game in hand. Lucasz Stasiak scored
the Huntly opener after 8 minutes and doubled the Tigers' lead in the first minute
of the second half. Ross Anderson immediately pulled one back for Turriff.
Tucked in just a couple of points behind Huntly and Wick Academy
are Deveronvale and Clachnacuddin who both won on their travels. A flurry of
goals saw ‘Vale 4-1 up at half time against luckless Fort William.
Graeme Watt set them on their way in the 12th minute and within seconds
Fort were down to 10 men when David Forbes was red-carded for a vehement
protest at being denied a penalty. Ironically referee Calum Spence awarded
three penalties later in the game. Scott Fraser netted the first on 31 minutes
to double the ‘Vale lead and Graeme Rodger soon made it 3-0. Darren Quigg
scored from the spot for Fort before Kris Duncan claimed the visitors' fourth
goal. Midway through the second half Fraser fired in his second spot kick and Duncan scored his second
and his team's sixth. Michele Lombardi's stoppage time goal was maybe the best
of the lot – he cut in from the right to swerve the ball in from a tight angle.
Richie Hart gave Brora a half time lead at Dudgeon Park
with a spectacular strike from the left side of the area into the far top
corner of the net. There was an element of luck about Clachnacuddin's equaliser
when Graham Tatters sliced a cross over the head of Ally Ridgers into the same
top corner. A glancing near post header by Scott Graham clinched the 3 points
for the Lilywhites.
Keith kept up their recent good run when they came out on
top in a Banffshire derby at Buckie. Zander Sutherland headed in a Paul Napier
cross to give Buckie a 3rd minute lead but Cammy Keith equalised in
the 18th minute and headed what proved to be the winner after 63
minutes. The Jags laid siege to the Keith goal in the last 20 minutes and had
two claims for hand ball in the box but the Maroons survived to win 2-1.
Forres climbed from 15th to 10th in
the table with a 6-1 demolition of Strathspey Thistle at Mosset Park.
It took just 3 minutes for Scott Lawrie to get on the score sheet and Kyle
Scott netted the Can-cans second after 31 minutes. Early in the second half a
Matteus Bobrowski volley put the visitors back in the game but within 4 minutes
a handball earned Terry Swinton a red card and Lawrie hammered home the spot
kick. Scott Moore scrambled a fourth, Scott blasted in number five and Lawrie
completed his hat-trick.
Two second half goals from Stuart McKay saw Inverurie Locos
eventually get the better of Rothes at Harlaw Park.
