Can Cans too strong for shot-shy Huntly
HIGHLAND league
Forres MECH 4 Huntly 0
Forres Mechanics ran out comfortable winners over shotshy Huntly, who had to play the last 35 minutes with 10 men following the dismissal of midfielder Cameron Booth.
On 32 minutes, a counter-attack saw Forres get bodies forward and Andrew Macrae struck from the edge of the box inside the post to break the deadlock.
Six minutes later, Robert Duncanson’s corner was not dealt with and the ball ended up at the back post for defender Logan Johnstone to tap in.
Huntly registered one goal attempt the whole match when Stuart Knight pulled off a fingertip save to keep out a Nicholas Gray effort on 43 minutes.
The Can Cans kept up the pressure at the start of the second half. The visitors were slack in midfield and Ryan Farquhar ran on to pass Blair Johnston before finishing with a low drive. Huntly went down to 10 men after 54 minutes when Booth had picked up two cautions within a 58-second spell.
Forres captain Stuart Soane wrapped up the scoring with three minutes remaining, firing into the near post with a half-volley.
Cove rangers 0 Brora 0
Two teams tied at the top of the table with 63 points met at Balmoral Park, Aberdeen. There was nothing between the sides during the majority of the first period, but Cove went on the attack late in the half and it took a couple of fine stops by Joe Malin to keep them at bay.
Zander Sutherland’s shot into the side-netting was the most notable effort from the visitors.
Little changed in the second half, with the tension growing as the time slipped by. The last big chance saw Paul Brindle nip in behind the defence and go past Stuart Mckenzie, but he ran out of room and was unable to convert.
Despite scoring 143 goals between them in 46 outings this season, few observers had pointed to the fact they had only conceded 18 goals in total. CLACHNACUDDIN 1 BUCKIE thistle 0
Buckie were the more dominant team early on, but it was Clach who went closest when it took a fingertip save from Lee Herbert to keep them out, the teenager diving to his right to touch a diving header around the far post.
The Jags were looking to Kevin Fraser to unpick the lock, but, with Sam Urquhart and John Macleod still injured and Steven Ross on the bench, they lacked a recognised goalscorer.
The defining moment in the game arrived in the closing stages when sub Martin Callum marked his return from a long-term knee injury with a moment of composure.
When he was put through on goal, Callum calmly faced up Herbert before slotting the ball into the bottom corner with his right foot.
Formartine utd 3 KEITH 0
Formartine were gifted the perfect opportunity to take the lead in the 17th minute with referee Dan Macfarlane pointing to the penalty spot following a trip in the box. Andrew Greig made no mistake firing past Greg Simpson. Keith managed to keep themselves in the game and should have levelled when they were also awarded a spot-kick for a pull back. Former Formartine United forward Cammy Keith stepped up, but failed to get a good effort and allowed Kevin Main to make the save.
This was to be a turning point as substitute Ryan Stott added a second goal for the home team in the 74th minute.
The icing was put on the cake in the final minute when Garry Wood added a third to lift the Pitmedden outfit back into the top four.
Fraserburgh 2 rothes 0
Rothes were compact throughout the opening period and it took the home team 42 minutes to find their way through.
Sean Butcher provided the killer pass that allowed Paul Campbell to strike a low left-footed shot into the bottom corner of the net from 16 yards out.
The same pair combined again to double the lead halfway through the second period. This time it was Campbell who was providing the assist for Butcher and, from six yards out, he placed it into the bottom left-hand corner of the net.
The Broch were never in danger of letting this one slip and rarely looked under threat in the closing stages.
strathspey thistle 1 lossiemouth 0
After a hard-fought first half with chances at a premium, it was the Coasters who very nearly nosed in front just a minute into the second half.
Ryan Sewell found space to crack a shot goalwards, but, with Michael Maccallum beaten, the ball came back off the post. The veteran keeper was in action to deny Scott Campbell after he let fly from 18 yards.
At the other end, Scott Graham very nearly marked his home debut for the Jags with a stunning strike, but his 25-yard effort struck the bar.
In the end, the winner arrived just as a draw looked on the cards. Stephen Rennie’s cross to the back post was volleyed past former Thistle keeper Stewart Black by Cameron Lisle.
WICK acad 2 turriff utd 1
Gordon Macnab and Jack Halliday both went close for the hosts early on, but it was Turriff who took the lead just after the half-hour mark through Stuart Taylor.
Turriff consolidated their lead for the remainder of a poor quality first half, but then threw that away within 20 minutes of the restart.
Wick’s first came through scrappy means as Gordon Macnab’s effort deflected in off a defenders for an own goal.
The second was more worthy of winning the game as Academy slickly passed their way up the pitch before Halliday clinically slotted a placed shot into the corner via the post. Richard Macadie should have made the points safe when he connected with Craig Gunn’s cross but his effort struck the crossbar.
Turriff’s miserable second half was rounded off when Liam Strachan was sent off late on for two bookable offences.