Clark strikes late in Huntly win
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HUNTLY have taken a step closer to cementing a top half Highland League finish.
Michael Clark's 83rd minute header nicked a 1-0 win over a young Lossiemouth team on Wednesday night.
The success took Huntly to within three points of Buckie Thistle in eighth place, after Jags were held to a 2-2 draw at Nairn County.
Highland League P W D L F A PTS
Cove Rangers 31 27 3 1 96 11 84
Brora Rangers 31 25 3 3 97 12 78
Fraserburgh 32 24 1 7 115 35 73
Formartine United 31 21 5 5 93 36 68
Inverurie Locos 33 19 6 8 95 48 63
Forres Mechanics 32 20 3 9 73 38 63
Wick Academy 29 14 5 10 61 48 47
Buckie Thistle 31 13 6 12 63 47 45
Huntly 31 12 6 13 53 64 42
**Rothes 31 11 8 12 69 55 38
Deveronvale 32 12 2 18 52 62 38
Keith 30 9 6 15 56 63 33
Nairn County 31 10 3 18 53 65 33
Turriff United 32 9 4 19 69 85 31
Strathspey Thistle 31 9 3 19 43 79 30
Clachnacuddin 29 6 6 17 39 66 24
Lossiemouth 33 2 2 29 29 138 8
*Fort William 30 0 2 28 17 221 -7
* Deducted 9 points ** Deducted 3 points
Christie Park was passed playable despite torrential rain falling for much of the day.
Huntly started with Craig Reid in goal and he was soon in action to push away a drive from Lossie's Fraser Forbes.
The visiting Coasters have improved in recent weeks after a series of heavy defeats in the first half of the season, and belied their second bottom position with some good play.
The match took a bizarre turn for the worse when referee Paul McAvinue was sick in the centre circle and play was held up for a spell.
McAvinue eventually resumed play but was unable to continue in the second half, meaning an appeal had to be launched for a qualified official to run the line in place of assistant Davy Robertson, who took over the ref duties.
An off-duty ref was found, saving the match from abandonment.
Ross Still and Nick Gray had chances to put Huntly in front, but with the scoresheet still blank going into the final ten minutes a 0-0 draw looked on the cards.
Huntly skipper Clark had other ideas, rising to meet a Kai Ross corner to nod in what proved to be the winner.
There was still time for stand-in keeper Reid to pull off two good saves and ensure Huntly would see the game out for victory.
