North juniors: Lossiemouth United score seven, Dufftown hit six, Deveronside keep winning and New Elgin land good point

A tricky trip to Aberdeen to face high flying Banks O' Dee awaited Forres Thistle who hadn't started badly securing 4 points from the opening 6 available. The impressive young centre midfielder Jamie Soutar was first to show that Forres were up for the game when he robbed the Banks O' Dee centre midfielder of possession and ran towards goal hitting a 25-yard shot but it was easily saved. The home side were next to threaten as some shaky goalkeeping allowed a half chance for Banks O' Dee which was eventually scrambled to safety. Banks O' Dee now asserted some dominance and the chances came thick and fast. Great work from Charlie Rothnie one of the league's top scorers last year set it on a plate at the back post for Callum Nicol who hit the side netting with his shot rushing in from the left-hand side of the box. This exact same play happened either side of a Ricky Wardop long range effort which was narrowly over for Forres. The switch kept coming for Banks O' Dee but Forres did manage to show some great counter attacking football. Tenacious play from Harvey Henderson saw him run into the box and cross it for Neil Owen but he shot just over. Forres again applied pressure on the counter with Neil Moir and Ricky Wardrop having some neat and tidy play in the Banks O' Dee half but failing to test the goalkeeper. As comfortable in possession as Banks O' Dee were they were ragged out of it, and soon the opener came for the away side. A deep delicious corner from the left-hand side curled in from Neil Moir was as teasing as they come for Alex Innes who was manhandled into the goalkeepers' net and a penalty was awarded. Centre half and dead ball specialist Cameron Grant sent the keeper the wrong way as the away side took a 1-0 lead. Within 5 minutes Banks O' Dee were level after calamitous defending from the away side. Cameron Grant and Matthew Fraser failed to clear a bouncing ball at the edge of the box and striker Charlie Rothnie sent it towards goal from 20 yards out and whilst it looked as though as routine save was on the cards David Finch seemed to dive out the way of the ball for a surprise equaliser. Cameron Grant should have doubled his tally and restored Forres' lead but when the ball appeared at the back post it seemed to catch him by surprised as he passed it wide of the far post from close range. Cameron Grant had another excellent change before half time. Ricky Wardrop and Neil Moir again passing the ball superbly before Ricky was fouled 25 yards out. From the resulting Freekick Cameron Grant forced a great save from the Banks O' Dee stopper as both teams went in at half time 1-1. Jamie McGowan rang the changes at half time, goalkeeper David Finch replaced by Jamie Brown and Jamie Soutar went off injured replaced with Scott Stewart. Explosive winger Neil Moir signalled his intention at the start of the game robbing Banks O' Dee of possession and taking on his man, darting in from the left and letting fly with a tremendous shot only missing the top corner by inches. Forres soon restored their lead, superb direct play from Ricky Wardrop took on the defence and found himself on the left corner of the box, he put his head up and picked out Neil Owen on the penalty spot who took a touch and fired home a shot to give Forres the advantage, 2-1. Forres continued the pressure as Scott Stewart fired one over the bar as did Neil Moir as Banks O Dee rung the changes with 4 substitutes coming on. Charlie Rothnie again involved split the Forres centre half pairing but his shot ended up in the side netting. With 10 minutes to go Banks O Dee started throwing the kitchen sink at Forres and there was an inevitability about what was to come. With so many missed chances Thistle sat deeper and deeper trying to protect the lead only to be undone. A free ball broke to the Banks O' Dee centre midfielder Jake Blackwood 30 yards out who fired it goalwards and unfortunately it went straight over Jamie Brown's head. A disappointing goal to lose so late on and as it took the wind out of the Forres sails it gave Banks O 'Dee even more gusto going forward. Banks O 'Dee pushed for a winner and just before full time they found it. A deep floated cross into the back post could have been put through by 3 suitors and a ferocious header clipped the underside of the bar on the way home by Harvey Yeats was enough to see the Aberdeen side keeping the 3 points.