Highland League weekend: Deveronvale see off Forres Mechanics, Keith and Lossiemouth hit for six and champions Brechin City defeat Rothes
Fraserburgh and Brora Rangers dropped vital league points while Brechin City, Banks O' Dee, Formartine United and Buckie Thistle strengthened their title bids.
There was plenty of drama in Saturday's league programme, not least at Huntly where Buckie Thistle won a dramatic five-goal thriller.
Two Ewan Loudon goals helped Brechin City stay top with a 3-1 success over a Rothes side with caretaker manager Bobby Beckwith in charge - Ross Jack stepped down last week.
The league's top scorer, Grady McGrath had a penalty saved by Rothes keeper Sean McCarthy before sub Murray Mackintosh sealed City's win, Jake Thomson grabbing a late Rothes consolation.
Deveronvale pulled off a superb 2-0 win away to Forres Mechanics, teenager Ryan Park scoring both goals in the first half.
Lossiemouth took a heavy hit at home to Banks O' Dee who moved back to second with a 6-1 success at Grant Park.
A horror start to both halves for Lossie saw them concede a Hamish MacLeod opener within 30 seconds of kick off. Kane Winton and Garry Wood (pen) put Dee 3-0 up before a Niall Kennedy spot kick got one back for the Coasters before the break.
Just as they did in the first half, the home side went to sleep from kick off and two Lachie MacLeod goals in a minute increased Dee's lead and an own goal sealed Lossie's misery.
Keith scored the first and last goals at Formartine United but in between they conceded six, including a hat-trick for debut striker Aaron Reid.
Nathan McKeown gave the Maroons a second minute flyer before Aberdeen loanee Adam Emslie levelled on 25 minutes.
Former Don Aaron Reid, who was most recently with Peterhead and Elgin, notched a 16-minute treble after the break and an Aidan Combe strike in between saw the game finished by the midway point of the second half.
Brody Alberts netted a sixth for the home side on 90 minutes and Connor Killioh forced in a consolation in stoppage time.
Fraserburgh were twice pegged back by Clach and were made to rue a missed penalty and a red card.
Veteran Willie West handed Broch a half time advantage but Lewis Mackenzie levelled right after the break, then Fraserburgh top scorer Sean Butcher was red carded for a rash challenge.
Broch were awarded a penalty eight minutes from time but Ryan Sargent hit the bar.
A minute from time Logan Watt scored what looked like being Broch's winner but sub Dylan Mackenzie netted with his first touch to grab a point for the Inverness men at the death.
Brora Rangers were also heled to a 2-2 draw at Inverurie Locos, where they also missed a spot kick and had to come back from 2-0 down.
Cole Anderson and Nathan Meres had Dean Donaldson's men 2-0 up inside 32 minutes, and Jordan MacRae blazed a penalty over for the Cattachs before half time.
Max Ewan got one back on 56 minutes and MacRae made amends with an equaliser 20 minutes from time - but Brora couldn't find a winner.
Turriff United continued their good form with a 3-1 success over visitors Wick Academy.
Ewan Clark's 12th of the season edged United in front at the break and two Reece McKeown strikes after half time proved too much for Wick, who got one back through Ross Gunn in the last minute.
Strathspey Thistle's home clash with Nairn County was postponed due to a frozen pitch.
