Saturday May 18th
Academy turn on the style to round off record-breaking season
Wick Academy's 2012/13 squad will go down as
history-makers after rounding off the season with yet another convincing win as
Deveronvale were dispatched 4-1 at Harmsworth Park.
In a landmark campaign for the club, they have become the
first Highland League team in at least 109 years to win all their home games.
The Scorries also made sure of a third-place finish –
their best since joining the HFL in 1994.
The 100 per cent home record in 2012/13 – 17 wins out of
17 – is part of an unbeaten league run at Harmsworth Park stretching back 29
games to October 2011.
The third goal on Saturday was Academy's 100th
in the league in 2012/13, representing another first for the club, and they
finished the season with a total of 120 goals scored in all competitions.
Academy showed they were determined to end this memorable
season on a positive note as they kept up a high tempo throughout the first
half, winning every fifty-fifty ball and posing a constant threat to the Vale
defence.
Well-taken goals by Gary Weir in the sixth minute and Sam
Mackay in the 24th put the Scorries firmly in the driving seat, to the delight
of the noisy crowd of over 500. And the party-poppers came out when goal number
100 went in five minutes from half-time, Davie Allan finishing off a fine move
with a rising shot past Darren McConnachie.
Academy's hopes of a fourth successive clean sheet were
dashed when Graeme Watt slotted the ball past James More two minutes after the
break, but the home side restored their three-goal advantage in the 64th
minute – albeit in controversial fashion. Referee Graham Fraser ruled that an
effort from Allan had crossed the line, sparking furious protests from the Vale
players.
After the full-time whistle the supporters' player of the
year award was handed over to Alan Farquhar, a model of consistency in defence
whose timing, awareness and ability to read the game have been key factors in a
season in which Academy emerged as serious title contenders.
Cove Rangers clinched the Highland League championship
for the fourth time in their history with a 2-0 victory over Formartine United
in the title showdown at North Lodge Park.
Formartine could have wrapped it up had they beaten Nairn
at home the previous weekend, only to lose 3-1. That meant the Pitmedden side
needed a point from the decider with Cove, but there was no looking back for
the Aberdeen side after Jamie Beagrie headed them into a ninth-minute lead.
It was all over for Formartine when Stephen Jeffrey was
red-carded on the hour mark after taking down Connor Scully inside the box.
Ryan Stott's spot-kick was saved by Andy Shearer but the Cove man netted from
the rebound and the championship trophy was heading to Allan Park.
Huntly twice came from behind to beat Nairn County 3-2 at
Christie Park.
Conor Gethins' opener for the Wee County was cancelled
out by a Paul Macleod own goal. Gethins restored Nairn's lead from the penalty
spot but Russell Guild levelled before Andrzej-Slawomir Kleczkowski grabbed the
winner for the Strathbogie side.
Inverurie Locos ended up in the bottom half of the table
after drawing 1-1 at Buckie.
The Jags were awarded a penalty early on but Nikki
Smith's attempt was saved by Andy Reid. Neil Gauld put Inverurie ahead in the
second period but Lewis Mackinnon levelled from the spot after Locos' Marc
Young had been given his marching orders.
A win for Inverurie would have lifted them one place
above Forres into ninth on goal difference. The Jags finished 12th
after an underwhelming campaign by their standards.
Richie Ligertwood hit the winner as Turriff United beat
Clach 2-1 at Grant Street. Gary Harris had put the visitors in front before
Alan Pollock levelled for the Lilywhites.
Goals from Courtney Cooper, Graham Johnston and Scott
Barbour gave Fraserburgh a 3-0 victory at Keith.
Rothes were 2-1 winners against Lossiemouth at
Grant Park. Start Massie put Rothes in front only for Scott Miller to equalise
from the penalty spot, but Andrew Corbett struck late on to give the Speysiders
only their second away win of the league campaign.
Steven Mackay hit a double hat-trick as Brora Rangers won
12-2 in an embarrassingly one-sided encounter with a young Fort William outfit
at Dudgeon Park. Zander Sutherland, Andrew Greig, Martin Maclean, Ross Tokely,
Dale Gillespie and Liam Baxter were also on target for the Sutherland side,
with Martin Groat and Ailean MacLellan (penalty) replying for Fort.
The curtain comes down on the Highland League season this
Saturday (May 25) when the bottom two clubs, Fort William and Lossie, meet in a
rearranged fixture at Claggan Park.
