Buckie retain top spot with hard-fought win
FORMARTINE UTD 1 BUCKIE THISTLE 2
With Brechin having an early kick-off, Buckie knew only a victory would keep them top of the table on goal difference at the end of the day.
They took a giant step towards that when Andy Macaskill curled home the opener with the interval looming.
Josh Peters gave the travelling support more to cheer about 11 minutes after the turnaround.
That goal was to prove vital as former Don Jack Mciver broke into space to pull one back for United.
The Jags’ defensive line then held firm to secure an important three points.
BRECHIN CITY 5 CLACHNACUDDIN 0
Anthony Mcdonald slotted home Brechin’s opening goal after just three minutes, with Kieran Inglis missing a penalty for the hosts just five minutes later.
City kept pushing forward and Grady Mcgrath headed home a Marc Scott cross after 33 minutes for a 2-0 half-time lead.
It was one-way traffic towards the Clach goal after the break with a superb 30-yard Kevin Mchattie strike on 62 minutes made it 3-0.
Mcgrath made it 4-0 five minutes later when he fired home from close-range, and the striker completed his hat-trick and the scoring six minutes from time when he chased a long ball from defence before slotting the ball past Clach keeper Martin Mackinnon to make it 5-0 to put Brechin on 37 points alongside leaders Buckie.
FORRES MECHANICS 1 FRASERBURGH 1
The visitors took the lead in the 34th minute when Scott Barbour’s vicious left-footed free-kick was flicked past his own keeper by the head of Martin Groat.
It was not going to be a straightforward afternoon for the title holders as the Can Cans were to restore parity 20 minutes into the second half.
Ben Barron, celebrating a contract extension, got on the end of Shaun Morrison’s cross to net from close range.
There were to be no lastgasp heroics for the Broch this weekend as they fell seven points off the pace.
INVERURIE 2 KEITH 0
Saves either side of half-time from Andy Reid kept the game goalless, firstly to deny Connor Killoh with a thunderous drive, then a Liam Duncan 25-yarder tipped over.
On 57 minutes, a great Locos move resulted in a goal, Calum Dingwall making the incisive pass for his captain Greg Mitchell to sneak in and find the net with the aid of a heavy deflection.
Robert Ward made it two when his low shot at goal sneaked through the grasp of Craig Reid at his left post.
ROTHES 3 LOSSIEMOUTH 1
Rothes hit two goals inside the first seven minutes.
Former Ross County striker Greg Morrison was on target in the first 100 seconds of the game and, when Bruce Milne marked his 151st appearance with a rare goal from a set-piece soon after, the Speysiders were on course for a comfortable victory.
The home fans had to wait 70 minutes for a third, Morrison doubling his tally for the afternoon and making Dean Stewart’s 81st-minute goal to merely be noted as a consolation for the Coasters.
HUNTLY 1 BRORA 3
Fraser Hobday saved an early Dale Gillespie penalty, but the Brora man made amends providing an assist in the 33rd minute. His corner resulted in a goalmouth scramble with Andy Macrae getting the last touch.
Huntly levelled in 41 minutes when Lyall Booth’s corner found Michael Clark in the middle of the box for a downward header.
After a spell of pressure, Brora grabbed a vital second in the 80th minute when Max Ewen crossed into the box for Alisdair Sutherland to slot in from close range.
Minutes later, Tony Dingwall delivered a cross for Gregor Macdonald to volley home.
STRATHSPEY 0 BANKS O’ DEE 7
Home defender Liam Mcdade opened the scoring when he diverted the ball past Oliver Kelly for a 10th-minute own goal to give the visitors the impetus.
Hamish Macleod slotted in No. 2 15 minutes later and, when Kane Winton made it 3-0 on 65 minutes, the only question was about the margin of the victory.
Jack Henderson quickly added a fourth, before Darryn Kelly, Magnus Watson and Neil Gauld piled on the misery for the Jags.
WICK ACADEMY 2 DEVERONVALE 1
The Scorries got off to the perfect start with Gordon Macnab putting them in front.
Sean Munro soon stretched that lead, but Vale skipper Harry Noble fired them back into the game on the stroke of half-time.
There was to be no second-half turnaround as the Academy’s rearguard shut down the Banffers to jump four places in the table.
NAIRN 2 TURRIFF 1
Nairn took the lead on 26 minutes when Ciaran Young dispossessed Turriff defender Liam Cheyne to have a free run at goal and he rolled the ball into the bottom corner.
Just before the break, home goalkeeper Lewis Munro was beaten by a Callan Gray corner, which he allowed the ball to drop in at the near post.
The hosts went back in front again on 76 minutes, Adam Porritt’s free-kick from deep was knocked down Tokely for Fraser Dingwall to scramble home.