Highland League football: Brora Rangers move a step closer to title while ‘incredible’ Clach goal floors Forres Mechanics and Buckie Thistle see off Lossiemouth in Moray derby
Two thrilling comebacks from 2-0 down and a sensational long range goal dominated the Highland League football weekend.
Wick Academy scored the 1000th goal of a thrilling season and Brora Rangers took a huge step towards being crowned champions.
In Moray, there was a derby clash at Lossiemouth where Buckie Thistle put the match to bed with three first half goals.
Innes McKay and Fin Allen had Jags 2-0 up inside 12 minutes and Lyall Keir added a third, rendering Ross Morrison’s second half goal for Lossie to be nothing more than a consolation.
Forres Mechanics lost 2-1 at home to high-flying Clach, with a spectacular goal opening the scoring at Mosset Park.
Despite Forres creating the bulk of the best chances early on, it was the Inverness men who opened the scoring through Troy Cooper’s audacious long range effort, described as “incredible” on the club’s social media.
An own goal doubled Clach’s advantage in the second half and although Kyle MacLeod pulled one back late on, the away side held on.
Rothes’ miserable season continued as they lost 3-0 at Turriff United.
All the goals came in the first half with Ewan Clark netting twice including a penalty - he missed a spot kick his hat-trick after the break - and Mackenzie Taylor also on target.
Brora Rangers pulled off a massive 2-0 win over Banks o’ Dee to edge closer to the league title.
The leaders defeated the team in third place thanks to goals by former Elgin City pair Shane Sutherland and Tony Dingwall.
Brechin City won 4-1 at Formartine United through goals by Cillian Sheridan, Lewis Milne, Lewis Martin and Mitch Taylor with Scott Adams replying for United.
Brora and Brechin remain level on points at the top with Brora’s vastly superior goal difference effectively worth an extra point.
The Cattachs finish with two homes games against Huntly and Rothes and if they win both they will be champions.
Wick Academy kick-started a brilliant comeback against Nairn County with the 1000th goal of the Highland League campaign.
The on-form Scorries found themselves two goals down when ben Barron and Fraser Dingwall gave County a useful cushion, but in first half stoppage time Gordy MacNab pulled one back with the goal which clocked up a thousand strikes in the league in 2024-25.
it proved to be the catalyst for a Caithness revival, as Kyle Henderson, Mark Macadie and Euan Kennedy all netted for Wick in the second half for a 4-2 win.
The weekend’s other great comeback came on Friday night when Deveronvale ended a run of nine straight defeats by beating Banffshire rivals Keith.
Loss number ten on the spin was on the cards for Vale when Ronan Craib and ex-Vale man Horace Ormsby netted two goals in as many minutes for the Maroons midway through the first half.
Another man scoring against his former club was Vale midfielder Dem Yunus, the former Keith man quickly pulling one back to half the deficit at the break.
Deveronvale carried their momentum into the second half and Jay Goldie levelled before top scorer Jack Mitchell completed the turnaround with a 73rd minute winner.
The home side had player manager Garry Wood sent off in stoppage time but held on.
Huntly couldn’t hand new assistant manager Alex Thoirs a winning farewell as they went down 2-0 at home to Inverurie Locos.
First half goals by Blair Smith and Lloyd Robertson consigned the home team to a third consecutive loss in Thoirs’ final match before retiring from football.
Fraserburgh beat Strathspey Thistle 3-1, helped by a first half Scott Barbour double after Sean Butcher gave them an early lead.
Jags at least won the second half with Caelan Mutch netting a consolation.
