Saturday February 9th
Gethins at the double to end Scorries' winning run
Academy's six-game winning run came to an abrupt halt as
they lost 3-2 to Highland League title rivals Nairn County at Station Park.
The Scorries led twice but were pegged back both times
before Conor Gethins struck in the closing stages to give the home side all
three points.
Richard Macadie was red-carded midway through the second
half, and to make it a bad day all round for Academy there were wins elsewhere
for fellow championship challengers Cove Rangers and Formartine United.
It was Academy's first defeat since November and suddenly
their place at the top of the table looks a lot more precarious, with other
teams having several games in hand.
The Scorries got off to the perfect start with a goal
after six minutes, Lukasz Geruzel heading in powerfully from a Sam Mackay free
kick to the delight of the sizeable away support.
Nairn got themselves level on 25 minutes when Gethins
seized possession just inside the Wick half, advanced towards goal and lofted
the ball over Michael Gray from 25 yards.
Academy regained the initiative with a goal four minutes
from half-time. Macadie and Mackay combined to set up Stevie Cunningham for a
25-yard shot that Callum Donaldson couldn't keep out.
Davie Allan almost extended Wick's lead early in the
second half only to be denied by the crossbar.
Nairn grabbed their second equaliser on 63 minutes,
Gethins delivering a free kick into the box and Martin Macdonald getting the
vital touch to divert it past Gray.
Four minutes later Macadie was sent off after clashing
with Nairn's Glenn Main.
There were chances at either end before Nairn were also
reduced to 10 men with five minutes remaining, Michael Morrison being shown a
second yellow for taking down Gary Weir.
The game looked to be heading for a draw until Nairn were
awarded a free kick more than 40 yards out and Gethins' effort missed everyone
before ending up in the back of the net.
Academy's lead at the top was cut to two points as Cove
Rangers picked up a 2-0 victory over 10-man Deveronvale at Princess Royal Park.
Vale's Scott Henry was sent off on the stroke of
half-time following an off-the-ball incident and Cove made the breakthrough
just after the hour mark, Jordan Leyden scoring after a Danny Milne shot had
been blocked by keeper Darren McConnachie.
Cove made sure of the points with five minutes to go when
Vale's Kyle Rae turned the ball into his own net.
With Clach's game against Fraserburgh falling victim to a
waterlogged pitch, Formartine United took the opportunity to move up to third
as they came from behind to beat Brora Rangers 2-1 at North Lodge Park.
Former Caley Thistle and Ross County defender Ross Tokely
was making his debut for the Cattachs and they took the lead just before
half-time with a headed goal from Steven Mackay. However, Formartine's Daniel
Park turned things round with two goals in a three-minute spell early in the
second period.
This was only the fourth home league fixture for
Formartine this season, and they have picked up maximum points in those
matches.
Academy's next opponents, Huntly, surrendered an early
lead in going down 3-1 to Inverurie Locos at Harlaw Park.
Andrzej-Slawomir Kleczkowski headed the visitors in front
after eight minutes but Scott Begg nodded in the equaliser four minutes from
the break. Jack Strachan gave Locos the lead on 57 minutes and Neil Gauld made
the points secure 13 minutes from the end.
Aaron Shand hit a hat-trick as Buckie Thistle swept to a
morale-boosting 7-1 win against Strathspey Thistle at Victoria Park. Nikki
Smith weighed in with a double and Buckie's other scorers were Jamie Shewan and
Donnie Munro, with Jason Robertson getting a consolation goal for the Grantown
Jags.
Lossiemouth's new boss Stevie Dunn has pinpointed a need
to improve the team's fitness levels but he will have been impressed with what
he saw on Saturday as the Coasters recorded a surprise 4-3 win at Keith.
Andy Anderson's opener for the Maroons was cancelled out
by Kevin Flett before the break. Goals from Scott Miller and Liam Archibald put
Lossie 3-1 up before Ross Campbell pulled one back.
Donald Horsburgh hit Lossie's fourth in the 90th minute,
yet there was still time for Jonathan Cook to get another goal for Keith before
his team-mate Craig Macaskill was sent off.
Rothes are another club to have made a managerial change,
with Franny More being named as player/boss in place of Graeme McBeath.
The Speysiders responded with their best result of the
season so far as they beat Fort William 5-0 at Mackessack Park. Scott Dunn
scored twice and Sean McIntosh also netted a double, including a penalty, with
Stuart Massie getting on the scoresheet as well.
Forres Mechanics jumped up to seventh spot as they came
from two down to win 5-2 at Turriff.
The home side started brightly with Nick Gray and Cammy
Bowden both on target inside the opening 16 minutes. But the Can-Cans responded
with goals from Nathan Sharp, Kyle Scott and Scott Lawrie to go in 3-2 up at
the break.
Lawrie added another from the penalty spot early in the
second half and Turriff's Stuart Taylor was sent off before Ross Archibald
completed the scoring for Forres late on.
