HIGHLAND LEAGUE
BUCKIE THISTLE won the Highland League on goal difference, with a solitary first-half strike against KEITH giving them the three points required. The goal arrived in the eighth minute. Jack Mciver cut the ball back into the path of Max Barry and the former Don curled a leftfooted shot into the net via the inside of the post.
BRECHIN CITY started the day level on points and two goals behind Buckie, so a win at BRORA was the minimum requirement from a game moved to Golspie Sutherland’s pitch. City took te lead nine minutes before half-time when Marc Scott’s cross was dropped by Logan Ross and Ewan Loudon pounced to score. Josh Meekings saw red for dissent, but The Cattachs still found a way to level 20 minutes from time when Tony Dingwall produced a moment of magic to score a fine solo goal. With the game at Buckie still close, Loudon scored what could have been a league winner in time-added to win 2-1, but the frustrating news that the Jags had held on quickly burst the Brechin balloon. Grady Mcgrath was sent off right at the end.
FRASERBURGH with an outside chance of winning the title, had to win by 10 goals – and hammered visiting STRATHSPEY THISTLE 11-0! Scott Barbour (3), Sean Butcher (2), Ryan Sargent (2), Greg Buchan, Aidan Sopel, Willie West, Logan Watt made up the goal tally.
WICK drew 1-1 with BANKS O’ DEE, the latter getting the point they needed to secure fourth spot. Despite leaving Aberdeen before 8am, the visitors looked bright early on and got their noses in front from a penalty in the 14th minute, Michael Phillipson converting. They tired in the closing stages and Gordon Mcnab grabbed an equaliser to keep Wick in with a chance of finishing 11th.
FORRES MECHANICS beat visitors TURRIFF 1-0, with this end-of-season encounter offering the opportunity for some young players to get a run out and proved to be to the Mechanics advantage. They brought on 15-year-olds Jake Newlands and Ben Davidson for the last 20 minutes and former Ross County youngster Newlands made an impact. He used his pace to break clear and composed himself to lay the ball back for Mark Mclauchlan to slam home the only goal of the game.
Hosts CLACHNACUDDIN beat LOSSIEMOUTH 2-0, the visitors slipping
down to 15th with a defeat. Youngster George Robesten fired Clach in front with a little over 100 seconds on the clock, placing it beyond goalkeeper Cameron Farquhar. The Lilywhites were lifted by this early goal and Robesten scored a well-deserved second just before the half-hour.
FORMARTINE UNITED finished their season with a comfortable 3-0 victory over the home side, with the visitors DEVERONVALE being the better team throughout the 90 minutes. Julian Wade put them ahead after 11 minutes with a close-range finish before Adam Emslie curled the ball over Sean Mcintosh from wide on the left to double the advantage five minutes later. Scott Lisle increased United’s lead to three with a header just on the half-time whistle.