Locos’ vital strikes either side of half-time
HIGHLAND league
BUCKIE 1 Inverurie 3
Inverurie Locos collected yet another three points after goals either side of the half to put them in the driving seat.
The Jags looked bright in the opening stages with Steven Ross heading goalwards, but it was the visitors who were to grab the lead in first-half injury-time with Andy Hunter netting, then repeating the feat from a Chris Angus set-up two minutes into the second half.
Buckie reduced the deficit with just under 20 minutes left after Drew Copeland was brought down by Andy Reid. Andy Macaskill made no mistake with the penalty.
There was to be no turnaround though and it was a former Jags favourite Chris Angus who sealed the points with a simple finish.
Fraserburgh 2 lossiemouth 0
The Coasters had a good move involving Ryan Farquhar and Ross Archibald, but the ball across the face of goal only just evaded the long legs of Scott Dunn.
Lossie keeper Blair Moir is proving to be a penalty king and, having given away a spot-kick by fouling Bryan Hay, he then denied Willie West.
Supersub Paul Campbell came off the bench in the 63rd minute and, just two minutes later, he delivered a cross into the box from the right for Graham Johnston to score with a header.
Fraserburgh doubled their lead in the 72nd minute when Willie West scored with a first-time header from eight yards.
WICK 2 CLACHNACUDDIN 2
Wick were close to taking the lead 13 minutes in when Douglas Maclennan tipped Steven Anderson’s shot wide, before Danny Mackay rattled the post with a header from the resultant corner.
The game burst into life just before the half-hour mark when Fraser Robertson curled in a freekick to give Clach the lead, only for Craig Gunn to equalise for Wick a minute later.
Academy deservedly went ahead in the 57th minute through man of the match Sam Mackay.
Clach fought back and claimed a valuable away point 10 minutes from time when Maclennan outpaced Andrew Hardwick and slotted pst Sean Mccarthy.
Cove rangers 4 rothes 1
In the Breedon Highland League Cup, Cove went ahead in 34 minutes. Stand-in Rothes goalkeeper Robert Donaldson misjudged a swirling Connor Scully cross and snatched at the feet of Paul Mcmanus. Jonathan Smith fired the penalty firmly into Donaldson’s left corner.
Sam Robertson was the executor supreme for goal No. 2 a couple of minutes after the restart. His perfect cross from the right was met by a flicked header by Mcmanus to double the lead.
Six minutes on, Donaldson misjudged a Jamie Masson freekick 25 yards out, punching the ball straight at Mcmanus who knocked the rebound home from close range.
A second booking for Rothes midfielder Jack Maley midway through the half made the visitors task impossible, but, 10 minutes from time, Jaime Wilson reduced the leeway, netting after a poor Robertson passback.
The scoring was completed two minutes from the end. Substitute Mitch Megginson squared the ball from the right for the well-placed Scully to make the final score 4-1.
Forres MECHANICS 5 Deveronvale 3 ( aet)
The Banffers took the lead when Liam Forbes’ 18-yarder was diverted into the goal by Stuart Soane.
Forres were level in the sixth minute when Simon Allan’s setpiece deliveries provided another goal, Graham Fraser heading in.
Halfway through the half, Grant Noble put the Banffers in front for the second time, only for Craig Mcgovern to cancel that one out 12 minutes after the turnaround.
Dane Ballard raced through the middle and lofted the ball over the advancing Stuart Knight, but, for the third time, Forres came back, Soane cancelling out his earlier own goal to send it to extra time.
The Can Cans took the lead for the first time when Graham Fraser grabbed his second and, when Chris Blackhall collected a second yellow for sliding in on goalie Knight, Vale hopes began to fade.
Andrew Macrae finished things off, netting at the second attempt deep into the final period.
Brora 2 turriff 0
Despite losing experienced keeper Kevin Main, it was to be a strong first half for the United defensive line and former Buckie Rovers keeper Aaron Sherman, who is keen to grab his opportunity to claim the No. 1 shirt.
Brora threatened periodically in the first period, but Turriff showed some bite and threat of their own.
The breakthrough for Brora finally arrived in the second period when referee Alan Proctor pointed to the spot when Paul Brindle was felled in the box. The former Clach man dusted himself off and duly sent young keeper Aaron Sherman the wrong way.
The tie was put to bed in the closing 10 minutes and, once again, it was Brindle to the fore. Having collected the ball, he drove at the defence and jinked his way into position to slot home his second to send the Cattachs through. They will travel to Keith on March 10 in the next round, a game they will start as favourites.