Saturday May 4th
Academy eyeing top-three place after extending 100% home record
Academy
remain very much in contention for a top-three place after brushing aside
Huntly to extend their 100 per cent home record in the Highland League.
The
Scorries were targeting a 14th victory in 14 home HFL fixtures this term and
there was never any doubt about the outcome from the moment Richard Macadie
opened the scoring inside three minutes. Lukasz Geruzel weighed in with a
double before Sam Mackay rounded off a very comfortable 4-0 win.
Academy
have now gone 26 league games undefeated at Harmsworth Park, a run stretching
back 19 months, and they remain a point behind third-placed Nairn County ahead
of the all-important encounter with Les Fridge's side in Wick on Wednesday
night.
There was
an eventful start to Saturday's match. Huntly had the ball in the net after 17
seconds but it was ruled out for offside, then Macadie sent a decent chance
over the top before he latched on to a loose ball in the box and fired it low
into the corner of the net.
Macadie hit
a post with a clever attempt before setting up the second goal a minute from
half-time, delivering a low cross from wide on the right for Geruzel to tuck in
at the far post.
The third
arrived on the hour mark. Davie Allan was sent through one on one with keeper
Shaun Barney and, when the two of them collided, the ball fell kindly for
Geruzel who had time to control it before dispatching it into the unguarded net.
With a
quarter of an hour remaining, James Pickles picked out Mackay in the
inside-left channel and the midfielder took the ball round Barney before
slotting it in from a tight angle.
At the
other end, Michael Gray produced a fine fingertip save as Huntly went in search
of a consolation goal.
The victory
means Academy have completed a league double over Huntly this season, having
won 3-2 when the teams met at Christie Park in October.
Formartine
United's advantage at top of the table was cut to a single point as they had to
settle for a 2-2 draw at home to Forres Mechanics.
However,
Steve Paterson's men still have a game in hand on second-placed Cove Rangers
and remain firm favourites to land their first Highland League championship.
The
Can-Cans looked as though they were in no hurry to relinquish their league
crown as a Lee Fraser double put them two up at half-time at North Lodge
Park. However, Formartine
got themselves level with goals from Mike Ewen and Daniel Park inside a
four-minute spell just after the hour mark.
If they
take all three points from their midweek clash with Buckie Thistle, Formartine
can clinch the title with a win against Nairn this Saturday.
Cove
Rangers kept up the pressure with a superb 5-0 victory over Inverurie Locos at Harlaw Park.
Jamie Lennox did most of the damage with a first-half hat-trick, with Connor
Scully adding a fourth before Robbie Henderson completed the scoring.
Nairn held
on to third place ahead of their trip to Harmsworth Park
with a 4-1 home win against Lossiemouth.
Robbie
Duncanson and Michael Morrison gave the Wee County
a two-goal cushion before Matty Davidson pulled one back. Davidson was
red-carded just before the interval and Nairn wrapped up the points with a
double from Conor Gethins, the first of them coming from the penalty spot.
Fraserburgh
beat a young Clach side 4-1 at Grant
Street Park.
Ryan Cowie
and Courtney Cooper gave the Broch a two-goal lead at the break. John Macleod
pulled one back but strikes from Scott Barbour and Zander Davidson made it a
comfortable winning margin for the visitors.
Deveronvale
didn't have it all their own way against Fort
William, with the Banff
side emerging as 2-1 winners at Princess
Royal Park
after having Scott Fraser sent off. It was a day to forget for Fraser, who had
scored an own goal to put Fort level after Scott Henry's opener.
Martin
Charlesworth restored Vale's advantage before half-time and they held on
despite Fraser's red card midway through the second period.
Donnie
Munro struck twice in Buckie's 3-1 victory over Strathspey Thistle at Seafield Park. Buckie's other goal was a penalty
from Dean Donaldson, with Marc MacDonald netting a spot-kick for the home side.
Goals from Sean
Keith, Cammy Keith and Craig Phillips gave Keith a 3-0 away win against Rothes,
who had their player/manager Franny More sent off.
Turriff
United were 4-2 winners against Brora Rangers at The Haughs. Cammy Bowden, Gary
Harris, Lewis Davidson and Richie Ligertwood were on target for Turriff, with
the Brora goals coming from Martin MacLean and Steven Mackay.
