Highland League: Lossiemouth win Moray derby to heap misery on Rothes as Keith and Buckie Thistle draw
While Forres Mechanics’ 3-2 North Cup final win over Clachnacuddin took centre stage, there was still an almost-full Highland League card on Saturday.
The bottom two clashed at Grant Park as Lossiemouth took on Rothes - and it was the hosts who ran out 2-0 winners.
Owen Loveland put Lossie ahead in the 10th minute and Liam Harvey’s goal on 78 minutes sealed all three points for the Coasters - who rise above Keith and into 16th in the table.
Keith, despite dropping to second bottom, picked up a point of their own - drawing 0-0 with Turriff United at Kynoch Park.
Rothes are now eight points adrift at the foot of the table.
Buckie Thistle picked up a point with a 2-2 draw at title-chasing Fraserburgh.
Darryl McHardy’s penalty had the Jags in front on 29 minutes, but goals from Fraser Stewart and Scott Barbour put the Broch ahead at half-time. Aaron Cummings grabbed Buckie a point with a 70th-minute goal.
With Brora Rangers not in action, Formartine United took the chance to move top of the Highland League table with a 2-1 win at Huntly.
Tyler Mykyta put Formartine ahead on 15 minutes, with Matthew Wallace equalising before half-time.
The Black and Golds were headed for a point until former player Michael Dangana grabbed Formartine an 89th-minute winner.
Brechin City moved into second place with a 5-1 win over Wick Academy at Glebe Park.
Ben Armour (2), Mitch Taylor, Cillian Sheridan and Grady McCarthy (pen) scored for Brechin, with Owen Rendall scoring for Wick.
Nairn County sealed a sensational 4-3 win at Strathspey Thistle having trailed 3-1 at half-time.
Paul Brindle scored the opening goal for Nairn, but they were 3-1 behind by the half-hour mark thanks to goals from Josh Race, Filip Franczak and Shaun Morrison.
Fraser Dingwall and Ben Barron scored in a three-minute second-half spell to level the scores, before Brindle grabbed his second of the game on 78 minutes to complete the turnaround.
Double-scorer Brindle was then sent off on 90 minutes as Nairn saw out the win.
Finally, Max Alexander’s 82nd-minute goal gave Banks o’ Dee a 1-0 win over Inverurie Loco Works.