Highland League football: Buckie Thistle add to Rothes woes, last minute spot kick hands Deveronvale derby joy and Brora Rangers overtake Brechin City into top spot
Deveronvale returned to winning ways and ended Turriff United’s eight-game unbeaten run in the Highland League Banffshire derby.
United arrived at Princess Royal Park buoyed by seven wins and a draw in their last eight outings, and took the lead through Mackenzie Taylor’s 11th minute strike.
But Ben Hermiston quickly levelled for the home side, and there was no further scoring until a dramatic finale.
Vale were awarded a stoppage time penalty and captain Harry Noble stepped up to score the goal which took Vale back above their opponents into tenth place.
Buckie Thistle came from behind to extend Rothes’ losing run at Victoria Park.
The Speysiders are in dire need of points near the foot of the table and raised hopes of a Moray derby success by taking the lead through an Andy Skinner goal.
That advantage lasted just nine minutes as Elgin City loan striker Fin Allen netted on his Jags debut to level on 35 minutes.
Lyall Keir put Buckie in front at the break and two quick goals by Aaron Nicolson and Andy MacAskill after half time took the score to 4-1.
Josh Peters made it five different Buckie scorers in a 5-1 home success.
Brora Rangers returned to top spot with a 3-0 derby win at Wick Academy thanks to goals by Connor Bunce (pen) and two for Matty Wright.
Brechin City surrendered the leadership after being held by third-placed Banks o’ Dee.
Brechin led twice through Cillian Sheridan and Marc Scott but goals from Dee’s Michael Philipson and Andy Hunter pegged them back in a 2-2 draw.
Lossiemouth led Inverurie Locos from a penalty by Lewis McAndrew but Jay Halliday equalised before half time and second half efforts from Lloyd robertson and Cole Anderson saw Locos to a 3-1 win.
That took Locos above Clach, whose visit to Strathspey Thistle was one of three games off due to the weather.
Forres Mechanics’ home game with Huntly and Nairn County’s visit to Keith also fell victim to the frosty conditions.
Fraserburgh had been undefeated in ten league games since losing at Lossiemouth in September, but they went down to a 2-1 defeat at Formartine United.
Two quick goals inside the opening 15 minutes by Stuart Smith and Scott Adams set up United’s success, with Aidan Sopel pulling one back in the closing ten minutes.
