Angus hits double as Locos steam ahead
Forres MECHANICS 0 Inverurie loco works 4
On-form Inverurie Locos dominated the match to run out worthy winners.
They got the reward of two early goals.
First, Chris Angus knocked the ball home on the rebound from a Jonny Smith effort on seven minutes.
Then the former Cove striker got his goal five minutes later with a back-post volley.
A Neil Gauld penalty just before the break was followed by a delightfully-curled second by Angus five minutes into the second half to secure victory.
Fraserburgh 3 BUCKIE 2
Scott Barbour opened the scoring for The Broch from close range and it looked set to be a good afternoon for the home team when Buckie keeper Daniel Bell was red-carded inside 40 minutes. However, a Sam Urquhart penalty levelled things before the break.
Paul Campbell sidefooted Fraserburgh ahead again, only for Andy Macaskill to find the top corner from 25 yards for 2-2. Campbell grabbed a winner from a penalty after he was fouled by Jack Murray on 84 minutes.
WICK 1 CLACHNACUDDIN 1
Scott Graham, a recent signing from Buckie Thistle, got Clach off to a flyer by giving his side the lead with just five minutes played.
The visitors had started confidently, but were pegged back not long after when Jack Henry slotted in his fourth of the season.
Wick had further chances to take the lead, only for Gordon Macnab and Ryan Campbell to both miss the target with shots from outside the box. Macnab had another opportunity on the half-hour mark when he latched on to Davie Allan’s pass and forced a brilliant save from Clach keeper Jake Williamson.
The second half didn’t produce many clear-cut chances, meaning the teams had to settle for a point.
Keith 4 Fort william 0
Russell Mcmorran announced he will step down as Fort boss after the festive period. However, he found Keith in no mood to provide him with a parting gift as the Maroons powered their way to three points.
Craig Macaskill fired them into an early lead and, after Cammy Keith coolly slotted home the second from the penalty spot, Keith began to show a real assuredness.
James Brownie added the third, before Macaskill scored No. 4.
lossiemouth 0 Brora 8
Like many before them, Lossie were steamrollered by league leaders Brora Rangers.
Tom Kelly got the ball rolling when he netted on the rebound, then Martin Maclean shot high into the net after another fine save by Stewart Black.
Headers from Maclean and Bjorn Wagenaar made it 4-0.
Having shored things up after Jordan Macrae added a fifth early in the second half, the Coasters endured a painful finale with Greig Morrison, Paul Brindle and Dale Gillespie increasing the tally.
strathspey 2 turriff 4
Ten-man Turriff United halted their slide to leap back out of the bottom three.
Liam Taylor had put the home team in front at half-time, but a Matt Macdonald penalty sparked an action packed 45 minutes.
Ross Naismith put Strathspey back ahead with a low shot from range, but Keir Smith responded. Macdonald put United in front for the first time and, despite Luke Kinsella seeing red, they clinched a morale-boosting win through Angus Grant.
Deveronvale Formartine united 0
Formartine created the first opening when Gary Wood headed against the woodwork, but it was Vale who opened the scoring in the 13th minute when Scott Dunn picked out Colin Charlesworth and the winger slotted home from eight yards.
Kevin Main then saved a Harry Noble penalty six minutes later, but Vale did net again after 39 minutes when Ryan Sargent fired the ball past Main from 16 yards.
Ross Aitken added a third three minutes after the break when he slipped the ball past a couple of defenders before rounding Main to score from close range.
NAIRN County 0 rothes 2
A Craig Cormack volley almost had the visitors ahead, but keeper Dylan Maclean pulled off a great blocking save.
The visitors were on top and they took the lead in 21 minutes The ball was played into the box to Bruce Milne and his simple layoff found Alisdair Sutherland to calmly pick his spot from 10 yards. The unmarked Max Ewan had the chance to pull his side level in 35 minutes, but his first touch let him down and the chance passed him by.
Rothes doubled their lead four minutes later when Craig Cormack burst into the box and his low drive was too powerful for Maclean to keep out.
A great tackle from Alasdair Stark prevented Ewan from bearing down on goal at the start of the second half.
However, it was the visitors who would go the closest when Steven Anderson rattled the crossbar, and substitute Gary Kerr’s effort came back off the upright.