Saturday March 23rd
Champions are blown away as Academy stay top
Academy
maintained their two-point lead at the top of the Highland League with a fine
3-1 victory over reigning champions Forres Mechanics at a wintry Harmsworth
Park.The Scorries played some tremendous football despite the ferocious wind
and sleety showers blowing down the park, and could easily have won by a much
more convincing margin. As it is, they have extended their unbeaten home record
in the HFL to 24 games – including 12 straight league wins at "Fortress
Harmsworth" in the current campaign. They have now achieved the club's highest
points total since gaining Highland League status, and are just one goal short
of 100 in all competitions.
The
opener came in the ninth minute when the Forres defence failed to deal with a
high ball that was held up in the wind, and Richard Macadie was able to prod it
into the net at the second attempt.
Gary
Weir doubled the lead two minutes into the second half, taking a diagonal pass
from Stevie Cunningham at the left edge of the box and squeezing it in at the
far post beyond keeper Stuart Knight.
The
decisive third came after 53 minutes – and what a stunner it was. The ball fell
to Cunningham about 40 yards out and he unleashed a spectacular volley that
flew over Knight and into the net.
It
may have been wind-assisted but nevertheless it was surely one of the most
spectacular strikes ever seen at Harmsworth Park. It was Academy's 80th league
goal this season and brought their tally to 99 in all competitive matches.
Having
dealt comfortably with the Can-Cans' attacking threat in the first half, James
More was a virtual spectator for most of the second period but he was beaten
with three minutes to go when Lee Fraser raced on to a long ball and poked it
beyond the Wick keeper. Alan Farquhar made a last-ditch attempt to clear it but
couldn't prevent the ball ending up in the net.
Second-placed
Cove Rangers kept up their challenge with an easy 6-0 victory Fort William at
Allan Park. There were doubles for Jordan Leyden and Martin Johnston, with
Blair Yule and Robbie Henderson adding the others.
Nairn
County came from behind to beat Deveronvale 2-1 at Station Park. Martin
Charlesworth gave Vale a third-minute lead from the penalty spot, but the Wee
County got themselves level through a Kyle Rae own goal just before the hour
mark and John Cameron fired home the winner with eight minutes to go.
Clachnacuddin
warmed up for their midweek encounter against Academy with a comfortable 5-0
victory over Strathspey Thistle at Grant Street Park. All the damage was done
in the first half as Blair Lawrie hit a hat-trick and Scott Graham and Brian
Macleod also got their names on the scoresheet. The Lilywhites had a chance to
add a sixth in the closing stages when Strathspey's Scott Hendry conceded a
penalty and was red-carded into the bargain. However, Sam Urquhart's spot-kick
was well saved by Willie Ridgers.
Andrzej-Slawomir
Kleczkowski scored twice and Patrick Vigurs was also on target as Huntly picked
up a 3-0 away victory over Buckie Thistle.
There
were three red cards at Dudgeon Park as Brora Rangers beat Inverurie Locos 2-1.
Zander
Sutherland put the home side in front after a quarter of an hour. Locos' Gordon
Forsyth was given his marching orders just before the half-hour mark after
committing a foul in the box, but Steven Mackay's penalty was kept out by Andy
Reid.
Brora
were also reduced to 10 men with seven minutes remaining when Ross Tokely was
dismissed for a second bookable offence in conceding a penalty. Neil Gauld
scored from 12 yards, but Brora secured all three points when another penalty
was awarded in the last minute.
This
time Reid was sent off and replacement goalie Daniel Bell couldn't keep out
Dale Gillespie's spot-kick.
