Saturday October 27th
Scorries bounce back to reclaim second spot
Academy put their North Cup disappointment behind them by
easing to a 3-0 win at Fort William on Saturday to reclaim second place in the
Highland League.
The Scorries dominated throughout but it took them until
the second half to make the breakthrough, Davie Allan grabbing a quick-fire
double before Lukasz Geruzel added a third. The encounter at Claggan Park was
one of only four HFL fixtures to beat the wintry weather.
Richard Hughes – in charge as caretaker manager for the
last time before becoming assistant to new boss Barry Wilson – made a few
changes to the side that had lost narrowly to Nairn County in the AJG Parcels
North of Scotland Cup final. Geruzel, Shaun Sinclair and James Pickles were all
handed starting places, while Craig Shearer missed out through injury and Gary
Weir and Michael Steven were listed among the substitutes.
Academy were well on top in the first period without
being able to find a way past the stubborn Fort rearguard. The visitors finally
broke the deadlock in the 52nd minute when Sinclair released Sam Mackay and his
flick-on gave Allan the chance to run through and fire the ball low past keeper
Iain Macleod.
Four minutes later Allan struck again after getting on
the end of a through ball from Stevie Cunningham. This time Macleod almost kept
out Allan's shot but the ball crept under his body and over the line.
Geruzel rounded off the scoring in the 74th minute with a
bullet header from an inch-perfect cross by Richard Macadie.
It was Academy's fifth straight league victory and they
are now on the 21-point mark after seven wins from their opening nine fixtures.
With leaders Cove Rangers on Scottish Cup duty this
weekend, Academy have the chance to go top if they can beat Keith at home.
The Scorries are protecting an unbeaten home record in
the league stretching back over a year. However, there can be no room for
complacency, especially bearing in mind that Keith were the last visiting
Highland League club to win at Harmsworth Park – in a Scottish Cup tie on
October 22nd 2011.
Deveronvale moved up to third in the table, two points
behind Academy, after coming from two goals down to beat Lossiemouth 3-2 at
Princess Royal Park.
Colin Charlesworth – son of Vale boss Charlie – struck
twice for the visitors, his first coming midway through the first half and the
second just before the hour mark.
Graeme Watt quickly pulled one back for the home side and
Grant Noble levelled the scores with a quarter of an hour remaining. Watt
secured all three points when he netted a spot-kick with eight minutes left.
Clach ended an eight-year winless run at Kynoch Park as
they beat Keith 2-1.
All three goals came in a 10-minute spell early in the
second half. Scott Graham's opener for Clach was cancelled out by Andy Anderson
but Martin Callum soon restored the Lilywhites' lead and that was how it
finished.
The Merkinch men are now up to fifth as one of three
teams on 19 points, the others being Vale and Huntly.
Buckie Thistle had to come from behind to get the better
of Rothes at Mackessack Park, the Jags eventually running out 3-2 winners.
Sean McIntosh gave the Speysiders an early lead from the
penalty spot but Donnie Munro's equaliser made it all square at the break.
Jordan Sutherland put Buckie ahead early in the second half and Nikki Smith
added their third before Lewis Forbes reduced the deficit late on.
