Gauld’s goal in 300th match is a winner
HIGHLAND league
Inverurie locos 2 Forres MECHANICS 1
A late winner by Neil Gauld in a personal landmark game gave Locos all three points.
After a goalless first half, Locos went one up on 53 minutes through Mark Souter, the centrehalf on the end of a perfect inswinging corner from Neil Mclean.
The Can Cans were lacking their usual goal threat, having lost main front man Stuart Soane to a 34th-minute hamstring injury, but equalised with 12 minutes left. Jordan Milne’s hard hit cross was met by a cute flick from Andrew Macrae at the near post.
The Red and Blacks claimed the winner five minutes from time when sub Colin Charlesworth delivered a cross to the back post. Neil Gauld finished perfectly on his left foot for his 30th goal of the season and his 300th in Highland League football.
Brora 1 Formartine 2
Brora got off to the perfect start with midfielder Martin Maclean placing the ball past Kevin Main inside the first five minutes. However, Graeme Rodger soon had Formartine level.
Nick Ross was the closest to scoring as the remainder of the half ebbed and flowed, but his attempt to round Main was thwarted by the veteran stopper.
In the second half, former Cattach Andrew Greig added some impetus to the visitors as he raced through to fire inches wide.
Within a minute, Archie Macphee put Formartine in front, firing high past Joe Malin.
BUCKIE thistle 3 rothes 2
Buckie made the breakthrough five minutes before half-time when Steven Ross raced in to net. The two teams traded goals in a three-minute spell just after the hour. Steven Anderson pulled the Speysiders back before Steven Ross responded with his second of the game.
A wild challenge by Dale Wood saw Rothes reduced to 10 men in the 72nd minute, but they looked to have grabbed a point when Scott Davidson netted with just eight minutes remaining.
Almost three minutes into injury time, Scott Adam won the game for the Jags.
Huntly 2 Fraserburgh 2
With 10 minutes gone, Huntly’s Gary Mcgowan took the ball round the keeper to fire in low for his 12th of the season.
David Booth netted for the first time since he returned to the club when he got on the end of a flick-on to fire high into the net. Two Fraserburgh subs then made an impact as the visitors netted twice within 11 minutes.
Scott Barbour got past Ryan Mcritchie to send a low cross into the back post for fellow-sub Gary Harris to slot home. Barbour, who had come off the bench in the first half, levelled things up with 18 minutes remaining with a free header at the back post.
turriff 2 CLACHNACUDDIN 1
Brian Macleod went in search of his first three points as a manager, but it wasn’t long before his team fell behind to a well-taken goal from former Buckie Thistle player Drew Copeland.
The Lilywhites response came from a set-piece, with Sean Webb turning the ball home to ensure parity at the break.
Things seem to be swinging in favour of Clach when youngster Keith Smith saw red.
Despite that, Kris Hunter’s side showed the spirit to claim a dramatic winner when James Chalmers slotted the ball past Douglas Maclennan to lift the Haughs’ outfit above Nairn County and into 13th.
lossiemouth 2 KEITH 4
The Coasters came flying out of the traps and were a goal up in the third minute. Brodie Allen delivered the cross and Ryan Stuart headed home.
There was an element of fortune in Max Berton’s windassisted free-kick that made it 1-1, but the Maroon’s second goal was a strike worth of note, James Brownie putting them in front.
Just as they had done in the first period, Lossiemouth scored early into the second half as youngster Moray Taylor arrowed a shot into the roof of the net from 18 yards. The next goal was to prove crucial and it came from the inevitable source of Cammy Keith, who slotted home.
Wayne Barron clinched victory for Dean Donaldson’s side in the 86th minute with a close-range finish.
WICK 6 Fort william 0
Andrew Hardwick was the unlikely hero for Wick Academy as his hattrick helped them thrash Fort William.
A depleted Fort side travelled with only 12 players and were up against it from the start, with only an offside call preventing them conceding to Gordon Macnab with barely a minute played.
It took half-an-hour for Wick to eventually open the scoring when Sam Mackay was brought down in the area and Gary Manson converted the penalty.
The goals flowed freely after that, with Hardwick netting his first of the day two minutes later, cleverly back-heeling in from close range.
The powerful defender then got Academy’s third 10 minutes into the second half with a terrific diving header, before Michael Steven tapped in the fourth. When Jack Halliday was fouled in the box, Hardwick was presented with the chance to complete his hat-trick from the spot – and he duly obliged.
An easy afternoon’s work was completed late on when Alan Hughes laid on an easy finish for Davie Allan.
Deveronvale 0 strathspey thistle 4
The visitors went ahead after 39 minutes when Scott Lisle hammered home a shot from eight yards following a Stephen Rennie cross.
Michael Dunn’s attempted clearance sailed beyond Errol Watson after 61 minutes to double the visitors’ advantage and, shortly afterwards, it was 3-0 as Lisle was left with a tap-in after dreadful Vale defending.
Lisle completed his hat-trick with 11 minutes remaining as he scored from 10 yards following a Dominick Edwards cutback.