Early Brown strike gives Cove win No. 19
HIGHLAND league
turriff 0 Cove rangers 1
The changing of the year didn’t impact upon Cove’s march towards yet another league title as a first-half goal from Jordan Brown proved to be enough to give them win No. 19 of the campaign.
The champions got their first goal of the New Year in simple style in 17 minutes, a low hard-hit cross from the right met by Jordan Brown at the near post for an easy knock in.
It could have been two in 27 minutes as Mitch Megginson eased past three home defenders before Fraser Hobday at full stretch fingertipped his shot round the post.
Cove again threatened through Megginson soon after, but, in 38 minutes, Angus Grant almost produced a shock equaliser as his shot came off the post.
In 64 minutes, the hosts almost lost a second when Daniel Park’s effort came off the inside of the post and into Hobday’s arms.
BUCKIE thistle 0 Brora 4
The Cattachs took the lead after 20 minutes with Martin Maclean controlling the ball and firing past teenager Lee Herbert.
Dale Gillespie scored No. 2 just minutes after the turnaround, then Kyle Macleod nodded home No. 3.
Sub Craig Campbell completed the scoring, with Herbert producing a number of saves.
Formartine utd 14 Fort william 1
It took the home team a quarter of the match to score their first two goals, with Scott Ferries breaking the deadlock in the 10th minute before Ryan Stott added a second, then it was 3-0 on the half-hour thanks to Stott again. United had netted seven by the break with Ferries, Archie Macphee, Liam Burnett and Graeme Rodger notching in turn. Macphee turned things up a notch when he scored a treble in just over six second-half minutes.
After some respite Stott completed his hat trick then Gary Carroll responded to raise a cheer for the Fort.
Unfortunately, this only encouraged Formartine further with Macphee and Johnny Crawford scoring before Macphee completed his double hat-trick.
Huntly 2 KEITH 1
After three minutes, Stewart Hutcheon put Greg Simpson in trouble from a backpass and, when the keeper failed to control the ball, Nicholas Gray took advantage to bundle in from close range.
It was 2-0 on 87 minutes when Kai Ross fired in from a tight angle. The game was set up for a nervy finish when Cameron Keith was blocked in the Huntly box and the ball spun to midfielder James Brownie who prodded in from close range.
Inverurie 3 strathspey 2
Scott Lisle put the Jags in front when he rounded Andy Reid and slotted home.
Daniel Crisp then forced a header over the line to level.
Inverurie turned the goal into a double whammy as they quickly reversed the scoreline with an Andrew Watt cross leading to a stramash that was succinctly finished by Chris Angus. The Locos, who saw two goals disallowed for offside, were clawed back on the hour , Lisle’s low shot finding the bottom corner of the net.
Ace marksman Neil Gauld netted the all important fifth goal on a day that saw Locos skipper Neil Mclean chalk up 500 games for the club.
Deveronvale 2 CLACHNACUDDIN 1
Chances were at a premium in the first half, with Alistair Gillies’ shot for Clach from 14 yards the best opportunity.
Vale broke the deadlock six minutes into the second half when Robert Scott finished off a move at the back post.
Within 60 seconds, it was 2-0, with Grant Noble capitalising on a poor backpass from Martin Macdonald to score.
Clach pulled one back with 10 minutes left through a superb Sean Webb strike from 16 yards, but were reduced to ten men two minutes later as Scott Dunn saw red for a challenge on Pennet.
NAIRN 1 Fraserburgh 2
A Callum Maclean header went straight at keeper Edward Finn, who also pulled of a great flying save to keep out a Tom Maclennan free-kick.
All the goals came in a sixminute spell just after the break. In 51 minutes, Adam Naismith was caught late in the box by Marc Dickson and the ref pointed to the spot.
Naismith got up to blast the penalty beyond Finn.
But the visitors were level in 55 minutes when substitute Greg Buchan got on the end of an Aidan Combe cross before ramming home from close range.
Two minutes later, another substitute Paul Campbell had the Broch in front when he lashed high into the Nairn goal following more good play by Combe. Cameron Buchan went close to increasing his side’s lead with a header that flew just wide and, with a minute to go, Combe fired wide with the goal gaping.
lossiemouth 0 rothes 4
Rothes scored just before halftime when a Dale Wood shot rebounded into the path of Kris Duncan and, from six yards out, he lashed it high into the back of the net.
On 68 minutes, Steven Anderson slotted home a second from close range.
Goals in the 89th and 90th minutes from Anderson and Jaime Wilson clinched the points for the visitors.
WICK ACADEMY 0 Forres 0
Wick passed up a good chance less than three minutes in when Craig Gunn whipped a low cross to the near post for Richard Macadie, but he couldn’t keep his first-time effort down.
It was Forres who went on to have the better of the first half, though, and Sean Mccarthy had to fly down to his left to keep out Andrew Macrae’s fierce halfvolley from distance.
Stuart Knight pulled off two great saves from Wick’s Gordon Macnab in the second half.
Knight was beaten with five minutes left by Marc Macgregor’s looped shot from the corner of the box, but the post was there to deny Academy the three points.