Saturday December 29th
Academy close in on top spot after taking derby honours
title challenge with a rousing 3-0 victory over Brora Rangers in front of a
1200-strong festive crowd at Harmsworth Park.
Lukasz Geruzel struck twice, including a
penalty, and Sam Mackay added the third as the Scorries extended their
undefeated home league run to 18 games.
The final match of 2012
also created a bit of history for the club as it's the first time they have
gone a full calendar year unbeaten at home in the Highland League.
The opener came on 35
minutes when
Geruzel got on the end of an incisive pass from
Richard Macadie. The big Polish striker showed strength and
composure as he held off a challenge and slotted the ball low past the
advancing Ally Ridgers.
Brora had a sustained spell of pressure early in
the second period but there was no way past the resolute Wick defence. A
point-blank save by Michael Gray looked as though it might be a turning point,
and so it proved as the Scorries doubled their lead on 74 minutes.
Davie Allan raced down the left and, as he cut
inside, he was fouled by Russell Duncan. Referee Douglas Ross had no hesitation
in pointing to the spot and Geruzel calmly tucked the spot-kick low to Ridgers'
right as the keeper dived the other way.
The home fans' joy was complete on 84 minutes as
Academy wrapped up the points with a third goal. Geruzel slipped the ball to
Mackay, on the right-hand side of the box, and the ex-Brora man steadied
himself before firing the ball in at the near post.
Cove Rangers remain at the top of the table, but
their lead is down to a single point after conceding a last-gasp equaliser in a
1-1 draw at Fraserburgh.
Martin Johnston headed the Aberdeen side in
front on 20 minutes, but the Broch grabbed a share of the spoils when Russell
McBride struck in injury time.
Clachnacuddin moved up to third after a
comfortable 4-0 victory over Fort William at Grant Street Park. Struan
Scott-Woodhouse put the Lilywhites in front just after the half-hour mark and
Scott Graham doubled their lead five minutes from the interval.
The home side were reduced to 10 men early in
the second half when Bruce Milne was given his marching orders, but Fort were
unable to take advantage. Colin Williamson got Clach's third midway through the
half and Allan Pollock rounded off the scoring late on.
Formartine United came from behind to record a
3-1 win against Inverurie Locos, with all the goals coming inside the opening
quarter. This fixture was switched to Harlaw Park after Formartine's North
Lodge ground was deemed unplayable.
Scott Begg fired Locos into an eighth-minute
lead but Formartine got themselves level four minutes later through a Kevin
Webster free kick and the same player put the visitors in front from the
penalty spot with 17 minutes gone. Mike Ewen added their third in the 22nd
minute.
There was a double twist in the dying stages at
Princess Royal Park as Deveronvale and Turriff United fought out a six-goal
thriller. Scott Fraser looked to have won it for Vale as his header put them
3-2 up in the first minute of stoppage time, but moments later Turriff's Nick
Gray struck to tie it up at 3-3.
The Banffers had taken an early lead through a
Lewis Davidson own goal but that was cancelled out by Gary Harris.
There was controversy midway through the second
half asTurriff's Gary Davidson and Vale's John Urquhart were red-carded. The
home side regained the lead through Kris Duncan, only for Robbie Henderson to
put Turriff back on level terms before the injury-time drama unfolded.
Strathspey Thistle completed back-to-back wins
against Rothes with a 3-1 victory at Seafield Park in a match that saw both
sides end up with nine players.
Sean McIntosh put Rothes ahead from the penalty
spot but the Grantown Jags hit back with goals from Craig Rothney, Alan
Mackenzie and Gillies Mackenzie.
The four who saw red were Alan Shearer and Sean
McKinstry of Rothes and Strathspey's Fraser Tulloch and Gary Sutherland.
A second-minute goal by Andy Neill was enough to
give Nairn County a 1-0 win against Forres Mechanics at Station Park.
Buckie Thistle ran out 4-0 winners over
Lossiemouth at Grant Park, even though the Jags played three-quarters of the
match with 10 men following the dismissal of Jamie Shewan.
Martin Charlesworth struck a double for Buckie,
with Donnie Munro and Zander Sutherland also on target. Lossie were awarded a
penalty at two down but Ross Archibald's effort was saved by Darren Strong.
Keith completed a festive double over Huntly as
goals from Cammy Keith and Jonathan Smith gave the Maroons a 2-0 victory at
Kynoch Park. Huntly's Craig Dorrat was sent off.
