Breedon Aggregates Cup 2015 – The Road to the Semis
Despite dismal winter
weather, this season's Highland League Cup, sponsored again by Breedon
Aggregates, has reached the semi-final stage on schedule.
24 January was a white out
for all Highland matches except at Brora where Davie Kirkwood's team had again
drawn the short straw of having to play a preliminary tie. Visitors Cove
Rangers, on a good run of form, unbeaten in 12 games, shocked the league
leaders after just 8 minutes when Daryl Nicol fired into the net from 6 yards.
Brora had to wait an hour for an equaliser when top scorer Steven Mackay netted
from close range. On 75 minutes Scott Graham put Brora 2-1 up only for Nicol to level the scores
again within a minute with a 25 yard drive. Cove's Jonny Smith saw a shot
rebound from the bar late on in extra time but had the satisfaction of scoring
the winner as the Aberdeen team went through 4-2 in the penalty shoot out.
The Nairn County – Fort
William game was delayed a week and Nairn then enjoyed a comfortable 4-0 win.
Conor Gethins netted a neat lob after 27 minutes and Sam Urquhart netted a
rebound as couple of minutes later. Late goals from Robbie Duncanson and
Gethins sealed the victory.
On 7 February all 8 First
Round games got the go ahead.
Keith held on until nearly
half time at Cove, going behind to a Jamie Watt's 38th minute strike. The
floodgates opened after the break and four Cove goals in 20 minutes, from
Stuart Duff, Watt and Smith (2) settled the tie. Mike Ewen netted a consolation
spot kick for the Maroons before sub Michael Selfridge completed a 6-1 rout.
Forres Mechanics also had a
big home win, 7-1 against luckless Rothes. Ross Archibald put the Can-Cans on
the road to victory after just 9 minutes, Stuart Soane bagged four goals, Dachi
Khutsishvili and Lee Fraser the other marksmen. The Rothes goal came in
stoppage time from Callum McIntosh.
Nairn made home advantage
count against Inverurie Loco Works and were two goals up at the interval,
thanks to Martin MacDonald and Gethins. Locos fought back with a penalty from
Martin Bavidge on 54 minutes and Gordon Forsyth made it 2-2 on 77 minutes. Two
red cards and two late Nairn goals, a Gethins penalty and a cool finish from
Duncanson, snuffed out Inverurie's hopes of progress.
Holders Clachnacuddin had to
come from behind to get past Deveronvale at Grant Street. Graeme Rodger's goal
for ‘Vale came just 36 seconds into the game, allowing the Lilywhites plenty of
time to rectify the situation with goals from Michael Finnis (a 6th minute
penalty) and Martin Callum (37). Second half goals from subs Ian Penright and
Scott Davidson completed the 4-1 score-line.
Turriff United also won 4-1
with their game at Huntly following an identical pattern. Craig Dorrat's 17th
minute header gave the Christie Park men the lead but Turriff took control
after the break. Artjoms Kuznecovs equalised with a penalty and Paul Young and
Andrew MacAskill soon made it 3-1 before Kuznecoves netted the fourth.
Formartine United were in
good form at Buckie going 2-0 up with goals from Cammy Keith and Marek Madle,
Andy Low reducing the deficit before half time. Madle scored again but Buckie
pulled it back to 2-3 when Chris Hegarty fired in a spot kick after 73 minutes.
Graham Hay made it safe for Formartine at 4-2.
Wick Academy had to dig deep
for a 2-1 win at Fraserburgh. On 27 minutes Steven Anderson netted from 10
yards when a shot from Lukasz Geruzel was headed off the line. After the break
the Broch were denied an equaliser by a couple of great Sean McCarthy saves
while a Mark Cowie effort hit the post. After 63 minutes Richard Macadie
doubled the Scorries' score from the spot after Anderson was fouled by Bryan
Hay. Wick's luck held as a Hay header hit an upright but on 73 minutes a superb
25 yard curling shot from Graham Johnston gave Broch hope at 2-1. A red card
for Hay reduced the home side to 10 men and Academy held on.
Lossiemouth needed extra
time to get past Strathspey Thistle. A goal for the visitors from Josh Peters
after 52 minutes was cancelled out 10 minutes later by Shawn Scott. A red card
for Darren Bailey meant Lossie's faced extra time a man down but Scott Miller
was the Coasters' hero with a clinical finish after 116 minutes.
The Quarter-finals on 28
February all produced close games. At North Lodge Park, Cammy Keith's powerful
19th minute header gave Formartine a lead which they held until the hour mark
but goals from Jamie Watt, Daryl Nicol and Jonny Smith took Cove Rangers
through 3-1.
A superb 25 yard Sam Mackay
free kick after 28 minutes produced the only goal as Wick Academy put out
holders Clachnacuddin at Harmsworth Park.
Turriff United also won 1-0
at home, Jamie Beagrie's goal enough to beat Forres.
At
Station Park, Nairn County led 2-0 with goals from Alan Pollock and Adam
Naismith but had to hold on for a nervous final 20 minutes after Shawn Scott's
72nd minute goal for Lossie.
