Saturday April 6th
Macadie grabs winner as Scorries stay in the hunt
Richard Macadie struck the winner as Academy kept their
title hopes very much alive with a hard-earned 2-1 victory over leaders Cove
Rangers.
The Scorries certainly didn't have it all their own way
as Cove dominated possession for long spells. But the home side showed great
discipline in defence, and James More – by far the busier of the two keepers –
produced a series of important saves to lay the groundwork for the win.
The opener came on 17 minutes when Craig Shearer
delivered a superb diagonal pass to Sam Mackay on the left. Mackay homed in on
goal and his cutback was touched in by Gary Weir from close range.
Cove got themselves level two minutes from half-time. A
spell of pressure at the top end resulted in the ball being played out to Blair
Yule on the edge of the box and he dispatched a curling effort into the
postage-stamp corner.
Academy threatened with a couple of dangerous breakaways
early in the second half, only to be thwarted by questionable offside
decisions. But they were not to be denied, and another counter-attack on 75
minutes led to the winner.
Lukasz Geruzel – on as a substitute after returning from
injury – picked out Macadie's run in the inside-left channel, and this time the
flag stayed down as Academy's leading goalscorer ran through to coolly place
the ball beyond Stuart McKenzie and just inside the far post.
Academy have now won all 13 of their Highland League
fixtures at Harmsworth Park this term as part of a run of 25 home league games
undefeated, stretching back 18 months to October 2011.
Fraserburgh had a 1-0 away win against Strathspey Thistle
in a match that saw both keepers pull off penalty saves.
Scott Barbour got the only goal just before the half-hour
mark. Barbour later had a spot-kick saved by home keeper Willie Ridgers, then
the Grantown Jags were awarded a penalty of their own but Alan Mackenzie's
effort was kept out by Jonathan Dunbar.
Strikes inside the opening 15 minutes from Richie
Ligertwood and Gary Harris were enough to give Turriff United a 2-0 victory over
10-man Fort William at The Haughs. Fort keeper Kyle Robertson was sent off with
half an hour gone.
David Booth hit a double, including a penalty, as Huntly
eased to a 4-0 win at Lossiemouth. Andrzej-Slawomir Kleczkowski was also on
target and a Chris Ross own goal rounded off the scoring.
Nairn County, Keith, Inverurie Locos and Brora Rangers
booked their places in the semi-finals of the Breedon Aggregates Highland
League Cup.
Nairn stayed on course for a cup double as they beat
Clach 2-1 at Station Park.
John Cameron and Robbie Duncanson gave the home side a
two-goal cushion at the interval. County's Sean Webb was sent off with half an
hour to go and Clach reduced the deficit through Michael Finnis but they
couldn't find an equaliser.
Nairn's opponents in the last four will be Keith, who
beat nine-man Buckie Thistle on penalties after their tie at Victoria Park had
ended 3-3.
Lewis Mackinnon struck twice for Buckie after Jay
Cheyne's opener, while Cammy Keith hit a hat-trick – including two penalties –
for the Maroons. Mackinnon and his team-mate Shawn Scott were both given their
marching orders late in the game, and Keith went on to win 5-4 in the
shoot-out.
Inverurie booked a semi-final meeting with Brora after a
convincing 4-1 win against Deveronvale at Harlaw Park. John Maitland scored
twice, with Neil Gauld and Craig Ross also on target for Locos. Bob Morrice
pulled one back for Vale.
A double from Steven Mackay helped Brora to a 4-2 victory
over Formartine United at Dudgeon Park. Liam Baxter and Martin MacLean got the
others for Brora, with Mike Ewen netting both Formartine's goals.
The semi-finals are scheduled for Saturday, April 20.
