Fort kids crash at clinical Cove Rangers
FORT William’s youngsters had no answer on Saturday as a ruthless Cove Rangers side ran out 6-0 winners in the Highland League contest at Allan Park.
This victory for the Aberdeen side against the basement boys keeps them just two points behind leaders Wick, with a game in hand.
Experienced forward Martin Johnston and young Jordan Leyden each bagged doubles, with Blair Yule and sub Robbie Henderson also on the scoresheet.
Fort, who have no midweek fixture this week, host Buckie Thistle on Saturday.
Clach have beaten last year’s tally as their 5-0 home Highland League win against Strathspey Thistle at the weekend fired them into title contention.
Lilies boss Iain Polworth has always stressed their main target was to surpass their 50-point haul from last season, which saw them finish 10.
Their impressive win at Grant Street, where all the goals came in the first half, moved them into third spot, five points behind first-placed Wick Academy with two games in hand.
Wick visit Clach this Wednesday in what could be an enthralling encounter.
Blair Lawrie was the hat-trick hero for Clach and he netted after just six minutes from a free-kick the two minutes later he headed home from a Scott Graham cross.
On 15 minutes, Graham made it 3-0 after being picked out by Brian MacLeod, who soon made it 4-0 as the Jags were being swept aside.
The icing on the cake came just before the interval when Lawrie’s 20-yard free-kick left keeper Willie Ridgers floored.
Nairn County hit back from an early goal to defeat Deveronvale 2-1 in a thrilling Highland League contest at Station Park on Saturday.
This victory closes the gap between Nairn and leaders Wick Academy to six points and Les Fridge’s team have three games in hand.
Nairn, who travel to Banff to face Vale on Wednesday, got off to the worst possible start on Saturday though as Glenn Main tripped Martin Charlesworth in the box after just three minutes and the striker buried the ball beyond Callum Donaldson into the net.
Deveronvale keeper Darren McConnachie didn’t deserve to be on the losing side and even former Caley Thistle, St Mirren and Ross County goalkeeper Fridge praised him afterwards.
He pulled off a string of saves to keep Vale in the contest. In the first half, he denied John Cameron twice and Robbie Duncanson once and Nairn pressed for the leveller.
McConnachie brilliantly dived to save a drive from Wayne Mackintosh early in the second half, but he was finally beaten – by an own goal.
Dave Watson had a pop from the edge of the area, but the ball struck Kyle Rae and spun past the goalkeeper to make it 1-1.
Donaldson also had to be lively as the visitors were always a threat on the attack and he got down well to save from a Craig Cowie 20-yarder.
Nairn were clearly lifted by their goal though and got the winner with eight minutes to go when, after Vale failed to clear their lines, Cameron lashed an unstoppable angled drive into the far corner of the net to earn a valuable victory for him team.
Elsewhere in the league on Saturday, Huntly were 3-0 victors at Buckie Thistle and a late Dale Gillespie penalty earned Brora Rangers their fifth win on the bounce as they beat visitors Inverurie Locos 2-1.
It was an incredible game with three penalties and three red cards.
Zander Sutherland gave Brora the lead then Gordon Forsyth was sent off for bringing down Steven Mackay in the box. Mackay saw his spot-kick saved.
Locos drew level from a Neil Gauld spot-kick after Ross Tokely handled in the box. Tokely was given his marching orders before the kick was taken for a second yellow card.
Mackay, forever a threat, won Brora a late penalty as keeper Andy Reid brought him down, leading to his red card. Gillespie made no mistake from the spot and sealed a 2-1 Brora win.
