Highland League: Brora Rangers stay six points clear but Brechin in hot pursuit

Inverness loanee Sam Thompson fired Brora in front after just four minutes before James Wallace extended the advantage just seven minutes later.

Those early goals were enough to earn the vital victory, although Allan MacPhee’s consolation header five minutes from time offered the Inverness side a glimmer of hope for the fourth-placed hosts.

Steven Mackay’s Cattachs have won five games in a row and have four fixtures remaining to try to secure the club’s sixth Highland League title.

Brechin City are still firmly in contention after their 1-0 victory at Wick Academy.

Although six points behind, City have two games in hand, with Brora 10 goals better off.

Mackay praise for early goalscorers

Mackay praised his early scorers for setting the tone.

He said: “It was always going to be a hard-fought victory, but we bossed the game for large parts.

“We had a phenomenal start. It was probably the best 10-15 minutes we’ve played all season, with our aggression to win first contact and then our ability to pick it up and play in little pockets.

“The way the boys passed, moved and inter-changed was pleasing on the eye. We looked really dangerous.

“We got the early lift with Sam Thompson’s goal, a brilliant finish from a young player who has come in on loan and has done an amazing job. He’s 18 years of age, yet played with such maturity.

“Then James Wallace burst from midfield and shows good pace and great composure to put us 2-0 up. It’s quite ironic both our holding midfielders put us ahead. It was just the way the game played out.

“But 2-0 is a funny lead and if the opposition get a goal back, it gives them a huge lift. That’s how it turned out but I thought we defended the last five or six minutes really well.”

Brora keeping eyes on first prize

Brora pipped Brechin to the league title on goal difference last term, 12 months after Buckie Thistle also won the league on goal difference over Brechin.

Mackay, whose side host Banks o’ Dee on Saturday, added:  “It’s deja vu – last season all over again. We just need to keep winning and beating the teams in front of us and see how it plays out over the next few weeks.

“We’ve been in this position before. We know the pressure is on us to keep winning games. To have five wins from five games is a great credit to the team, but there’s still a long way to go.”

Brora could not have asked for a better start as Thompson swerved a superb shot past goalkeeper Mark Ridgers inside five minutes from Shane Sutherland’s assist.

Then, on 11 minutes it was 2-0 as Wallace ran on to a long through ball and coolly slotted past Ridgers into the net.

Brora were pinning the Merkinchers back and, from a third successive corner, Wallace fired high over the crossbar on 25 minutes.

Five minutes later, Bunce was a fraction away from netting, but his header came off the inside of the right post after James Anderson won possession against his former club.

In the second half, on 63 minutes, Brora hit woodwork again when Sutherland crashed a high shot off the crossbar from inside the box.

With five minutes remaining, home captain Greg Morrison delivered a telling cross and substitute MacPhee steered a header into the net.

‘Too much respect’ shown – Gethins

Clach manager Conor Gethins, whose side are on course to beat last year’s sixth place finish, felt his players took too long to really ask Brora questions.

He said: “It shouldn’t take us 75 minutes to get going. Blair Lawrie has just given me stats. We’ve scored 21 goals in the last 10 minutes of games this season, way more than we do at the start or in the middle of games.

“It shows we’re super fit, but it’s not good enough for me.

“We showed Brora too much respect in the first half an hour and they hurt us.

“It frustrates me because we have so much talent in our squad. We lack belief sometimes. We lacked belief that we could get a result until the last 10 minutes.”

Wick Academy 0 Brechin City 1

Brechin City kept the pressure on leaders Brora Rangers as they battled to a 1-0 win at Wick Academy.

Mitch Taylor scored the only goal of the game as Andy Kirk’s side stayed within six points of the champions, with two games in hand.

City boss Kirk was delighted to leave Harmsworth Park with all three points following a competitive 90 minutes.

He said: “It wasn’t a great game but the main thing is getting the wins. If you had offered me three points and a clean sheet before the game I’d have taken it.

“You never expect to get an easy game anywhere, but Wick are quite a strong team and they know how to play their pitch.

“Their pitch is difficult to play on but we fought our way through.

“It was a difficult game for us but we got the job done. At the minute we just need to keep winning games and see where it takes us.”

There was little between the sides but Brechin got the breakthrough early in the second half in fortuitous circumstances.

Wick goalkeeper Lewis Gallacher was about to deal with Cillian Sheridan’s ball forward when he slipped and Taylor raced in to score into the empty net from close range.

Wick were reduced to 10 men four minutes from time when Jack Henry was sent-off for a challenge on Kieran Inglis.

Frustration for Wick boss Manson

For Wick Academy manager Gary Manson, it was a familiar tale of frustration.

He said: “It feels like I’ve been saying the same thing for the last 10 weeks. We’ve played well but come away with nothing.

“The goal we conceded just added to the frustration. I thought the ball was going out of play after Lewis slipped, but Taylor managed to just sneak it, kept it in play and tapped it into an empty goal.

“We played really well over the piece and I would like to think Andy Kirk would say the same. It was quite a 50-50 competitive game that could have went either way really and it took a freak goal to beat us.

“The red card just compounded it. I said to the ref after the game, there was no malice in the challenge.

“There were two committed players going in for the ball and their player got their a split second ahead of Jack.

“It didn’t have any real bearing on the game, but he is suspended for two games now and we’re light on bodies.”

Formartine United 0 Huntly 0

Formartine United and Huntly fought out a goalless draw for the fourth time in the Highland League.

With his side unbeaten at home in the league for the last year, United manager Stuart Anderson felt it was two points dropped for his side, who are now 10 points behind leaders Brora Rangers with a game in hand.

He said: “That game typifies how it’s been for us lately, defensively we were excellent and didn’t look like conceding but we maybe didn’t ask enough questions in the last third.

“It was unlucky with one off the post, potentially a penalty and there were chances in the first half we didn’t take and we needed to be more clinical.

“Too many draws in recent games have been frustrating; we just need to keep going for the rest of the season now.”

Huntly recorded their first clean sheet at North Lodge Park in 15 years with manager Graeme Stewart pleased with the performance from his team.

He said: “I’m proud of the way they’ve played, they’ve done what I expected.

“We’ve not created too much but I don’t think they (Formartine) did either and a draw is probably a fair result.

“I’m never happy with a draw but when you’re coming away to one of the title contenders you’ve got to be happy.

“Last week we were guilty of conceding some silly goals but this week we’ve made it harder for the opposition.

“But we just need to score more ourselves and I look to have a more attacking entertaining team next season.”

Both teams had chances despite lack of goals

Huntly had a great chance on the counter attack in the 12th minute with Owen Morris playing in Callum Youngson but he curled just wide of the post.

Andrew Hunter came close midway through the second half with a shot on the bounce which went narrowly over the bar from 25 yards.

The woodwork denied United on 69 minutes when Tyler Mykyta’s shot came back off the far post and into the arms of Lenny Wilson.

Wilson was called into action again for the visitors on 71 minutes keeping out an Aidan McCormick free kick.

The keeper would deny the hosts against with another save from a dead ball 10 minutes later to keep out Luke Strachan.

Huntly passed up a good chance with seven minutes remaining when Callum Murray’s cross picked out Lewis Crosbie but his header was by the post.

Rothes 0 Lossiemouth 3

Bottom of the league Rothes looked doomed after losing out of their nearest to their nearest relegation challengers Lossiemouth.

This was a contest the Speysiders needed to win but a surprisingly lacklustre performance left the home side, and their supporters, needing a minor miracle in the final four games to avoid finishing bottom.

Lossie manager Martin Charlesworth said: “We’ve had a really good reaction from the players since we took over at the club, the effort and application has been incredible.

“I thought we were pretty poor for 45 minutes, certainly the poorest since we’ve come in, but we were still 1-0 up which gave us something to hang to.

“I know there is some confusion about the play-offs with Invergordon but I really do hope that Rothes can somehow remain in the Highland League as they are a good club with loads of good people.”

Lossie overcome early pressure to take the lead

In the 10th minute Daniel Fraser had a half chance for the home side after a fine through ball from Sam Rothnie but the teenage striker’s effort flew just wide of the target.

Lossie took the lead in the 21st minute, against the run of play, when home keeper Stewart Black somehow allowed a long through ball from Ryan Matheson to bounce past him and into the empty net.

That goal was a real hammer blow to the Speysiders’ hopes of avoiding a relegation play-off with Invergordon at the end of the season.

On the half hour mark Black redeemed himself to a degree when he blocked a net-bound Lewis McAndrew header from a deep corner kick with his legs.

Two minutes later, at the other end, Daniel Fraser forced Arran Anderson in the Lossie goal into a fine diving save as play swung from end-to-end.

A minute later Ruairi Duncan was only just wide of the target with a fabulous overhead kick.

Just before the hour the Coasters doubled their advantage, Shaun Cameron heading home at the back post.

Lossie made it 3-0 in the 73rd minute when Liam Harvey’s free-kick from just outside the box bounced over the diving Black and into the middle of the goal.

Rothes boss Ronnie Sharp said: “We were on the attack at their first goal with a free kick deep in their half and from there another series of errors led to us conceding the opener.

“For their third goal we were defending a free-kick, the wall jumps and the ball bounces over the keeper, but that is the first time this season that the wall has jumped, that’s just another mistake on our behalf.”

Inverurie Locos 2 Banks o’ Dee 1

Inverurie Locos boss Dean Donaldson reckoned a 2-1 victory over Banks o’ Dee at Harlaw Park wrapped up one of the best weeks of the season for the Railwaymen.

Following an impressive 4-0 midweek win over Fraserburgh, the hosts found the net with goals from Mark Souter and Robert Ward, with an injury-hit Dee scoring through Lewis Lorimer.

Donaldson said: “I thought we played really well in the first half and limited Banks o’ Dee to just a few chances.

“The goals were good; Souter gets himself in an ideal position to convert a well-worked corner. Then Oliver (Green) put in a great ball and it’s a brilliant finish from Ward.

“After Banks o’ Dee grabbed a goal back, they looked to be the more dangerous side, but I’m pleased with how we defended in the final 15 minutes.

“We’ve lost too many goals this season, but we’ve now conceded one in two games which is progress.

“It builds upon a positive result against Fraserburgh, and we’ve shown a side to us this week that has rarely been present all season.

“It’s the time of year where we are thinking to next season and this gives us encouragement.”

Locos made the breakthrough before half-time

Neither goalkeeper was meaningfully tested in the opening quarter, but Inverurie started to take control and opened the scoring in the 34th minute.

A deep corner was headed back across goal by Taylor Chapman and Souter was on hand to bundle the ball home from close range.

The home side doubled their advantage after the restart when Oliver Green raced to the byline before sending an inviting cross towards Ward, who scored with a glancing header.

Dee reacted well and halved the deficit through a long-distance strike from Lorimer in the 66th minute but couldn’t otherwise threaten a resolute home defence in their quest for an equaliser.

Banks o’ Dee co-manager Josh Winton said: “We can’t hide away from how injuries have impacted us this season. We lost Joe (McCabe) in the warm-up, leaving only Michael Philipson on the bench, and he wasn’t fit to play either.

“Both goals are preventable from our perspective which is frustrating, but we scored a great goal, and it put us in the ascendancy.

“I thought we were well worth a point, but we couldn’t quite find a way to equalise. I can’t criticise the performance of the team, we’ve had a difficult run of games and have been picking up good results elsewhere.”

Turriff United 1 Keith 2

Keith’s recent purple patch continued unabated at the Haughs when they made it seven successive league wins for the first time in 26 years.

A penalty from Craig Gill and a neat header from 17-year-old Tristan Stephen saw off the other in-form side Turriff who had Glen Donald red carded.

The victory saw the Maroons reclaim seventh place in the table.

Maroons assistant manager Chris Craib said: “It’s still unbelievable, we came here with a few injuries and a lighter squad, but we got a positive start with the early penalty.

“They were then putting us under a lot of pressure, and we weren’t defending the high balls coming in.

“We had a word at half-time, and in the second half we dealt with them a lot better.

“In fact the roles were reversed and we were creating more danger. It was a great second goal, Tristan’s somehow managed to head the ball back across.

“It was just a shame that we didn’t score again to kill off the game, especially once they were down to 10 men.

“What we’ve noticed though during this run is that we play as a team, including the subs. It’s been consistent, and we keep going to get it over the line.”

Dream start for Maroons

Keith got the perfect start after only four minutes, when Stephen was upended inside the penalty area, and Gill made no mistake with the resultant award.

Turriff equalised in the 26th minute through Mackenzie Taylor, who rifled home a low drive from 16 yards.

Keith goalkeeper Craig Reid then pulled off a terrific save to keep out a powerful Miller Reid header as half-time approached.

There was a madcap spell around the hour mark when Stephen headed home the winner from Zak To’s free kick before Turriff were reduced to 10 men when Donald received a second yellow card for fouling Stephen in the middle of the park.

Turriff manager Greg Moir said “It wasn’t one for the purists. Craig’s got Keith set up well though.

“The sending off cost us, but all credit to Keith; they’ve won the game. Maybe playing on Wednesday had an impact, but I don’t like making excuses.”

Buckie Thistle 0 Fraserburgh 1

A first half goal from Jamie MacLellan gave Fraserburgh all three points against Buckie Thistle at Victoria Park.

MacLellan grabbed the winner in the 18th minute, his third goal against the Jags this season after netting twice for Deveronvale in the derby fixture in September.

Broch manager Mark Cowie felt the performance was more like his team after two defeats.

He said: “When you go on the run we’ve been on, confidence does drain a bit, and it was unlike us to not be physical or aggressive enough in recent games.

“Today we were, and we were the better side, particularly in the first half without creating too many chances. It’s a great strike from Jamie, right in the top corner.

“Hopefully we can go on a run now as we still want to finish as high as we can in the league.”

MacLellan winner came early at Victoria Park

The visitors started well and took the lead on 18 minutes, Scott Barbour firing in a good cross that was deflected out to MacLellan. He took a touch before rifling a half volley high past Theo Simpson from 14 yards.

Barbour missed a good chance early in second half when he blasted over from 10 yards, then Bodhan Campbell headed a decent chance over the bar from Liam Macdonald’s excellent cross from the right.

Buckie were reduced to 10 men 12 minutes from time when skipper Kevin Fraser received two yellow cards in three minutes from referee Lewis Brown.

Broch missed two great chances on the break to seal the win, Greg Buchan denied by a great stop from Simpson, then sub Fraser Mackie fired straight at the keeper from 14 yards.

Those misses almost proved costly as Jags came close to a leveller in injury time.

Substitute Josh Hawkins made a great clearance off the line after Josh Peters had headed Aaron Conway’s corner beyond Joe Barbour.

Thistle boss Lewis Mackinnon said: “We started the game poorly and just weren’t at the races, Fraserburgh were all over us early on.

“They’re always a handful up front but they didn’t really cut us open. I thought Innes McKay was magnificent.

“The second half was night and day, we asked them to use the ball better and they did, but again the referee influences the game and the red card is ridiculous.

“I can’t fault the players for effort, they had a hard game on Wednesday night, and a lot of the guys are just back from injury and not match fit yet.”

Deveronvale 1 Forres Mechanics 2

Forres Mechanics came out on top by an odd goal in three victory over Deveronvale in a game that saw few chances created by either team.

Vale had gone in front in the first minute when Jack Mitchell converted a penalty after Mark McLauchlan fouled Wallace Baird.

Forres levelled after 14 minutes when Ryan McRitchie capitalised on a mistake by goalkeeper Ethan Hopkinson to volley home from close range.

The winner came 13 minutes from time when the home defence, who were looking for a foul, failed to cut out a through ball and Calum Frame saw Hopkinson block his effort on goal, only for substitute Lewis MacKenzie to fire beyond the Vale keeper.

Delight for Can-Cans boss

Forres manager Steven MacDonald was delighted to get the victory after gaining a point at Turriff in midweek as well.

He said: “We have had a hard week and battled well and although we were not at our best we won and that is the most important thing.

“We made things hard for ourselves, giving away a stonewall penalty in the first minute and it gave Vale a lift, but we got ourselves level and going in at half time I thought there was more to come and so it proved.

“We also had a stonewall penalty turned down and it was a brilliant finish from Lewis (Mackenzie) to win the game.”

Vale manager Garry Wood didn’t think there was too much between the teams in a game of few chances.

He said: “We started well and got the goal and should have had another through a Jack Mitchell header. If we had got it then it could have been a different game.

“Some of the referee decisions were debatable and there probably could have been three penalties as we got one in the first half and both teams should have had one in the second half.

“For their second goal it’s a clear foul on Fergus Alberts but he let it go and it’s a big frustration.”

Nairn County 2 Strathspey Thistle 1

Nairn County manager Wayne Mackintosh was pleased to take maximum points ahead of a challenging end to the campaign.

County edged Strathspey 2-1 at Station Park to move to within a point of eighth-placed Buckie Thistle.

With five games remaining against Brechin twice, Turriff United, Fraserburgh and Banks o’ Dee, Mackintosh was pleased to see his side clinch victory against the Grantown Jags.

He said: “I’ll take three points at home. It was a typical end of season game but I’m happy with the win even if the performance wasn’t great.

“I’m just delighted to get the three points, especially with the games we’ve got coming up now.

“The end of season will be really tough so it’s a welcome three points on the board for us.

“I thought both teams were really poor in the first half, but we kicked on a wee bit in the second half.”

Fortuitous opener for wee County

Nairn opened the scoring when Calum Mackay’s inswinging corner was palmed into his own net by Grantown Jags goalkeeper Danny Gillan.

Strathspey equalised midway through the second half when Andrew Macleod’s low free kick beat Tom McHale in the home goal.

But Ben Barron’s header nine minutes from time secured victory for Nairn.

Strathspey boss Aaron Doran said: “There wasn’t much in it. They scored straight from a corner in the first half and our keeper, Dan, maybe could have done slightly better.

“He said he was fouled, but we couldn’t really see it, to be honest.

“I think Dan feels he should have done better for the winner as well. It’s straight at him and he’s parried it into the net.

“But he saved us just after half time when he denied Paul Brindle so these things happen. He knows he’s made mistakes, but he’s held his hands up.

“It was a game of low quality. Probably a draw was a fair result and I’m sure Nairn are happy with the win. But we’ll go again.”

[Source: Press and Journal]