HUNTLY were on wrong side of one of the performances of the season from Rothes goalkeeper Ewen Macdonald as they lost 2-0 at Mackessack Park on Saturday.

Visiting manager Martin Skinner was quick to praise Macdonald after his trio of saves kept his side at bay.

He said: "I actually couldn’t believe Ross Still’s header didn’t go in. It’s probably the best save I’ve seen this season, if not for the last few seasons.

"It was unbelievable. And then he made another one a couple of minutes later."

Rothes took the lead on six minutes as Aidan Wilson shot into the bottom on the turn after goalkeeper John Farquhar’s punch failed to make it fully clear.

Speysiders midfielder Alan Pollock went close before half-time as he fired a dipping shot onto the top of the crossbar from the edge of the area.

Farquhar made a great save at the start of the second half as he denied Ali Sutherland from close range, and he was alert again to deny Steven Anderson on the hour mark.

But the Huntly keeper’s opposite number then took the limelight.

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First, Macdonald got down really well to his right to deny Huntly captain Ross Still – before he denied the same man with a quite stunning flying save up to his left.

Just two minutes later, with 15 to go, Nathan Meres’ fierce drive was tipped onto the post by a seemingly unbeatable Rothes stopper.

And, with Huntly searching for a way to beat the home stopper, Rothes then landed the sucker-punch to secure the victory as Steven Anderson’s cross was beautifully volleyed into the bottom left corner by Alan Pollock with 10 minutes to play.

Martin Skinner added: "I’m gutted for the boys. I thought we put in a great shift.

"We know what Rothes are about and they are absolutely flying at the moment. I thought we gave a good account of ourselves.

"The two keepers were men of the match, but I thought we did enough to get something out of the game."

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