The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
MacLeod has vital spark in Brora’s pursuit
Attacker not giving up on title hope
“We started the game well by scoring two goals in the first eight minutes and that probably caught them by surprise. It put them on the back foot right from the start and from then on there was only going to be one winner.
“We know that if we are to win the league we will need other clubs to do us a favour. We are a point clear at the top of the table and it is good to have the points on the board, but if Cove win their two games inhand on us they will go five clear.”
Reflecting on his hattrick, MacLeod added: “My first goal came from a cross from Andy Greig on the left and I headed it in from the edgeof thesix-yard box and the second one came from a penalty after I had been brought down in the box, and my spot kick went in off the post.
“The third one came when Zander Sutherland did really well to get into the box, he cut the ball back to me and I tucked it away with my left foot.
“We still have the North of Scotland Cup to play for at the end of the season.
“Whatever happens in the league is out of our control so we are targeting this one to end the season in style.” Fraserburgh are scoring goals for fun in the Highland League but assistant manager James Duthie insists his club is ruing the three games which have cost them a tilt at theHighland League title.
The Broch have scored 11 goals and only conceded three in their last two games but a run of three league defeats in a row at the end of October has cost them dear.
The Bellslea club lost 1-0 at Turriff United on October 22, 3-1 at home to Keith a week later followed by a 4-0 loss at Formartine United.
Duthie said: “We had a sticky spell towards the end of October when we had about eight guys out and we lost four in a row, three in the league and another at home to Huntly in a cup tie. That disappointing ruin has cost us. Had that not happened we might just havebeenin with a shout of winning the title.
“We scored five goals against a good Inverurie Locos last Saturday and the weekend before we won 6-2 on Saturday against an equally good Keith outfit, so we have got to be happy with that.”
Duthie believes the Bellslea club’s normally castiron home form has let them down this season.
He said: “Our away form is as good as anybody’s but our home form is what we need to work on.
“I can’t fathom why that is as Bellslea is normally a very difficult place to come to.
“That is something we really do need to get right for next year but, at the moment, we’re sitting fifth in the table, a point behind Formartine United who have two games in hand over ourselves.
“We play themnext week and, if they do slip up, we’re ready to take advantage.”