First-half goals set Brora up for final win
BUCKIE THISTLE 1 BRORA RANGERS 2
Buckie Thistle came into the Highland League Cup Final as the favourites thanks to their incredible run of league wins, but it was the reigning Highland League champs who were to add more silverware to their boardroom.
Brora opened the scoring in 16th minute through Jordan Macrae, who struck a left-footed angled shot into the net from the corner of the six-yard box after Josh Meekings had headed it down into his path.
Craig Campbell’s men doubled their lead in the 34th minute from a Dale Gillespie free-kick which was headed in by Colin Williamson.
Marcus Goodall had a chance to reduce the deficit in the second period, but he failed to convert after Brora stopper Joe Malin parried a Kevin Fraser effort.
Buckie pulled a goal back in the 87th minute to make for an exciting end when a Goodall shot was rebounded to Sam Urquhart.
The Jags threw everything they had at the final few minutes, but the Cattachs held on.
FRASERBURGH 1 NAIRN COUNTY 0
Fraserburgh moved to within one win of the Highland League title with a narrow home victory over Nairn County.
The big crowd had only to wait six minutes for the opener, with Ryan Cowie netting direct from an inswinging corner on the right. His effort came off the inside of the post, but the assistant referee flagged to signify the ball had crossed the line.
Two minutes from half-time, Nairn keeper Dylan Maclean came out to challenge Ryan Sargent at the edge of the box, Scott Barbour latched on to the loose ball and chipped it on to the top of the crossbar.
Lewis Duncan should have doubled the lead early in the second half, but fired high and wide as the nerves began to show.
At the other end, Joe Barbour was sharp off his line to make a
big save from Andrew Greig.
The Broch then shut the game down to claim an important three points.
LOSSIEMOUTH 1 STRATHSPEY THISTLE 1
A scrappy first half was typified by the Lossie goal on 28th minute with goalkeeper Logan Chalmers’ big hoof up the pitch being headed past his own goalkeeper by Liam Mcdade.
Lossie should have added a second early in the second half, hitting the post and passing up an open goal.
Strathspey struck back from the penalty spot in the 82nd minute after Andrew Skinner was kicked in the head. Jake Thompson slotted the penalty low to the goalkeeper’s right.
The Jags could have taken all three points, but both Ross Logan and Craig Mackenzie failed to find a finish after creating space for a shot.
FORT WILLIAM 1 BRECHIN CITY 5
Brechin City kept up their winning run with a 5-1 victory over Fort William at Glebe Park.
It was Fort William who stunned City after just five minutes when they grabbed the lead from the penalty-spot after Kevin Mchattie was adjudged to have impeded Yves Zama in the penalty-box and Taylor Kelly made no mistake with the spot-kick.
City fought back and they levelled the match in the 22nd minute when Cammy Ross broke free on the left and when his cross came into the box, Inglis was on hand to head strongly past keeper Mateusz Kulbaki.
City went on the offensive straight from the re-start and Inglis grabbed his second goal just six minutes in when he converted from the penalty-spot after Ross had been upended in the box by Niels Iellouch.
Ross, Michael Paton and Julian Wade were on target in the closing minutes to make the final scoreline more emphatic.
HUNTLY 2 CLACHNACUDDIN 2
Huntly opened the scoring in the 28th minute when work down the left saw Michael Dangana angle a shot in from the byline which deflected in off Clach James Calder.
Four minutes later, Clach sent a ball upfield, but Huntly defender Kyle Dalling’s clearance header went past his own keeper.
On 83 minutes, a Clach corner from Robbie Thompson was headed in by an unmarked James Anderson.
Huntly equalised in 88th minute to share the points when Reece Mckeown’s cross found Greg Buchan at edge of box to fire in.