Saturday December 15th
Cove back to top after leaving it late at Lossie
Cove Rangers replaced Wick Academy at the top of the
Highland League after staging a late recovery to win 3-2 at Lossiemouth.
With a waterlogged pitch forcing the postponement of
Academy's scheduled home game against Deveronvale, Cove travelled to Grant Park
knowing that even a point would put them back in top spot.
However, it was Lossie who struck first with a composed
finish from Ross Archibald in the 10th minute. And a shock result looked to be
on the cards when Archibald doubled his tally five minutes later with another
well-taken strike.
Cove reduced the deficit 10 minutes from half-time when
recent signing Jamie Lennox was left with a tap-in after a Danny Milne shot had
been blocked.
The visitors finally got themselves level after 88
minutes when Jordan Leyden forced the ball home. Lossie's Kevin Grant was given
his marching orders in the aftermath of the goal, having committed a second
yellow-card offence.
The match was well into stoppage time when Connor Scully
found the net from 30 yards to secure all three points for Cove.
Buckie Thistle bounced back from their seven-goal
drubbing at the hands of Academy with a 3-1 victory over Brora Rangers at
Dudgeon Park.
The Jags made the breakthrough two minutes from half-time
through Zander Sutherland. Steven Mackay got Brora back on level terms on the
hour mark, but Shawn Scott restored Buckie's lead just over a minute later and
substitute Nikki Smith wrapped up the points with four minutes to go.
Clachnacuddin moved up to fourth place after coming from
behind to beat Huntly 3-1 at Grant Street Park.
Lukasz Stasiak put the visitors in front midway through
the first half, with Clach missing the chance to equalise before the break when
Alan Pollock blasted a penalty over the bar. The Lilywhites levelled through
Colin Williamson with a quarter of an hour to go, and substitute Paul Brindle
weighed in with a double to complete the turnaround.
In the only other game to beat the weather, Fraserburgh
and Forres Mechanics shared the points in an eventful draw at Bellslea Park.
Craig McGovern put the Can-Cans in front on 23 minutes
and they doubled their lead three minutes later as Scott Lawrie scored from the
spot.
Zak Conway pulled one back on the half-hour mark and
Fraserburgh were awarded a penalty of their own with a quarter of an hour to go
but Ryan Christie's effort was saved by Stuart Knight.
Nathan Sharp had been red-carded for the foul that led to
the Broch penalty, and the 10 men of Forres were unable to hang on as Graham
Johnston made it 2-2 with four minutes remaining.
