HIGHLAND FOOTBALL
In the Aberdeenshire Cup quarterfinals, FRASERBURGH beat INVERURIE LOCO WORKS 2-1.
The Broch took the lead on three minutes when Paul Young ran on to Lewis Duncan’s through ball to slot into the bottom corner from just inside the box, with the Inverurie defence claiming for offside.
The Locos should have levelled 14 minutes later after Kieran Shanks was brought down by Paul Leask, but he redeemed himself by saving Andy Hunter’s spot-kick. The Broch got a second early in the second half with Duncan’s second assist giving Ryan Cowie a simple finish.
The visitors pulled one back with Shanks turning to hit a left-footer into the top corner.
DYCE JUNIORS went down 3-0 to FORMARTINE UNITED.
Dyce, who defeated Deveronvale at Princess Royal Park in midweek, kept things tight in the first half, which finished goalless.
Paul Lawson’s men stepped up a gear after the turnaround and were to advance with a degree of comfort thanks to a brace of penalties.
Johnny Crawford slotted home the first just five minutes into the second period, but, four minutes later, he handed the responsibility on to Johnny Smith and the former Cove man duly added his name to the scoresheet. Scott Lisle added a third late on.
■ The long-awaited Highland League campaign kicks off next weekend with fans set to return to the grounds of clubs outwith Aberdeenshire. Forres Mechanics’ decision to take a year out – and the delayed start to the season
– has turned the usual marathon campaign into a 15-match dash for the title.
This provides an exciting edge to each round of matches with any slip-ups from the leading teams having an increased importance.
Title holders Brora Rangers will start as favourites, but Fraserburgh, Inverurie Locos, Formartine and Highland League Cup finalists Buckie Thistle and Rothes will believe this could be their season.
In a year where it has been difficult to look too far ahead, our predictions are that Fraserburgh will end on top and that Round 14 on Saturday, April 17, will prove critical in crowning the sprint champs.