The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Clach prevail over Turriff in thriller
INVERNESSCLACH 3 TURRIFF UNITED 2
Clachnacuddin came out on top in a fivegoal thriller at Grant Street Park to leave Turriff still seeking their first victory of the season.
A double from young Lilywhites striker James Anderson left his manager Jordan Macdonald singing the youngster’s praises.
Macdonald said: “We had to grind out the win but we were able to do that, we weren’t at our best but it’s a great three points and I think we deserved it.
“That’s seven goals James Anderson has to his name now and he’s just signed a new deal today.
“He knows what we are trying to do here and what we want him to do.”
There was very little to choose between the two teams in the first half hour with Owen Kinsella’s 25yard drive which flew a yard wide of the Clach goal the closest to an opener.
Just before the break a surging run and cross from Clach full-back Lewis Nicolson could have produced the opener but there were no takers when his centre was swept along the six-yard line.
In the 49th minute, Turriff broke the deadlock when Matthew McDonald strode forward and beat Martin Mackinnon with a 10-yard grounder, the first time the Haughs club have scored the opening goal this term.
Eight minutes later James Anderson sent his header from a deep left wing cross back across United keeper Tim Hendry and into the far corner of the net for the equaliser.
Turriff substitute Jordan Cooper thought he’d fired the visitors ahead in the 72nd minute but his curling 25-yarder cannoned back off the post with home keeper Mackinnon beaten.
United were made to pay 60 seconds later when Anderson, totally unmarked in the box, gave Clach the lead with another fine header.
With eight minutes left Clach substitute Connor Bunce ran through unchallenged to make it three.
United reduced the deficit when Murray Cormack was upended in the box and McDonald grabbed his second goal of the afternoon from the penalty spot, sending Mackinnon in the home goal the wrong way.
Disappointed Turriff boss Dean Donaldson said: “I think we could have taken something from the game but, as I told the lads, we got what we deserved.
“You can’t lose three goals and expect to win a game, or even draw, that doesn’t just come from your defence, it comes from all over the park.
• Brora Rangers swept aside Nairn County 4-0 with two former Nairn players, Jordan MacRae and Dale Gillespie, both scoring against their former club.
The Dudgeon Park club’s caretaker manager Craig Campbell was delighted to secure another victory.
He said: “I don’t think we reached the standard of play we did on Wednesday night (in a 4-0 win against Forres) but our performance in the first half was OK.
“I thought we took our foot off the gas in the second half a wee bit.
“Nairn came out after possibly getting a bit of a roasting at half-time and they got a bit of reaction and saw more of the ball but I don’t think our keeper Joe Malin had a lot to do.”
Brora opened the scoring 10 minutes from the break when Matthew Wright fired home off the inside of the post. A brace of goals within 60 seconds just before the interval killed the game, Jordan MacRae notched the second one and seconds later Gregor Macdonald made it 3-0.
Dale Gillespie made it 4-0 after the restart from the edge of the box into the bottom corner and with just a minute to go County keeper Will Councell received a red card for handling the ball outside the box.
County boss Ronnie Sharp said: “We keep shooting ourselves in the foot by making mistake after mistake. If you do that against Brora they’re going to punish you.”
• Brora have appointed Scott Mackay, of Edward Mackay Contractors, as their new chairman. He succeeds William Powrie who stood down earlier this month.
Ali Mackenzie, of Pipeline Technique, has been named vice-chairman.