Dufftown stun Premier Division title chasers Hermes in Dominos North regional Cup while Islavale hit back from four goals down in thrilling 6-6 draw at Maud
Dufftown produced the shock result of the north junior football weekend with victory over one of the big guns.
Almost the entire length of the two divisions separated the sides when Dufftown played host to Premier Division title chasers Hermes in the Dominos North Regional Cup on Saturday.
The Aberdeen visitors have games in hand to overtake the leading two group in the top league, while the Toonsers currently sit fourth from bottom in the Championship with many expecting a heavy home loss.
Instead, Dufftown produced a great effort to repel the attacks of the away side, and two goals by on-loan Forres Mechanics teenager Kieran Hayllar won the day.
Ex-Lossie keeper Trevor Dear made a superb stop for the home team before Hayllar lobbed in two tremendous finishes in a five minute spell to stun Hermes.
Dufftown then brought on more experienced players to see the game out and record a famous cup victory.
In the Premier Division, Islavale staged an incredible comeback to grab a point in a 12-goal thriller at Maud.
The Buchan side looked on course for an easy victory when they raced into a 4-0 lead inside half an hour.
Two of those goals came in the opening five minutes as Vale buckled under an onslaught.
But once the Keith side settled into the contest, they were to produce a great escape act.
Sam Mair got a goal back just before the break and when James Stables added a second early in the second half, hopes were raised in the Vale camp.
A fifth Maud goal put Islavale on the back foot again until Ricky Henderson headed home to bring it back to 5-3.
When the homesters netted another to go 6-3 up with just five minutes to go, a result looked beyond Vale.
Enter super sub Finlay Milton, who triggered a late revival with an 85th minute goal.
It remained 6-4 until the 89th minute when Lucas Davidson saw his strike saved but followed up to cut the deficit to one.
Mair then thought he had equalised but an offside flag cut short his celebrations.
However, in stoppage time the ball found its way to the left side of the Maud box and Milton swept it home to complete an amazing turnaround as the match finished 6-6.
Lossiemouth United’s Championship title bid remains on course although they had to settle for a 2-2 draw at fellow challengers Longside.
United trailed 1-0 at the break in Buchan before two quick goals by Alex Matczak and a fine Finlay McKay free kick edged them in front.
A Longside penalty on 75 minutes made it a share of the spoils, with United sitting five points clear at the top of the league.
However, nearest challengers Banchory St Ternan have two games in hand, while Longside have four fixtures to catch up and are ten points behind Lossie so there’s still work to do in the championship chase.
Whitehills were denied a third win of the season by a late Burghead revival for a point at School Park.
Burghead led at half time thanks to Ryan MacBean’s early goal, but Hills upped their efforts in the second half to race into a 3-1 lead.
Brook Whyte scored a cracker to equalise, Ross Fiske’s penalty put Whitehills in front and Callum Risk made it three for the home side.
Ben Abrahams got one back but it looked like Whitehills would hold on for victory when they still led in the seventh minute of stoppage time.
But Jamie Davidson popped up with the latest of late equalisers for the away side.
New Elgin drew 2-2 at Stoneywood Parkvale with Aidan MacKenzie and Dean Stewart getting the Moray side’s goals.
Deveronside edged out Forres Thistle 1-0 thanks to Owen Christie’s goal.
