Forres back on title trail
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FORRES Mechanics got back to winning ways to maintain their Highland League challenge.
A 4-2 win at Mosset Park against Formartine Utd was their first win in three games.
With leaders Cove Rangers winning 2-1 at Huntly thanks to a late Jordan Leyden goal, the Can-Cans needed to keep up the pressure with a win against former Mechanics' manager Steve Paterson's side.
A blistering start to the game saw Stuart McKay blast over the bar in the first minute when clean through on the Forres goal.
However, Forres quickly took control and only three outstanding saves by Formartine keeper Derek Souter denied Graeme Grant, Simon Allan and Kevin Duguid.
The opener arrived after 11 minutes when Kevin Duguid blasted through a ruck of players from close range.
Formartine levelled in the 20th minute when Andy Bagshaw broke the offside trap and rounded Stuart Knight to score.
However, a great finish by Willie Barron and a thundering Nathan Sharp header from an Allan corner put Forres in command at the break.
Barron broke to add a fourth just five minutes after the restart and although sub Colin Robertson pulled another goal back midway through the half, Forres were never in any real trouble.
The result leaves Forres two points adrift of Cove Rangers but the Mechanics have two games in hand. The top two clash in Aberdeen next Saturday.
Forres boss Charlie Rowley said: "It was a big test for us with us losing the last two games and Formartine's great 3-0 win at Huntly last weekend.
"I expected it to be a really tight affair but our power gave us the victory.
"The result was the important thing and to get the three points. The game at Cove will be a big game and a point would be great, but we will go there looking for the win."
Keith's ruthless streak saved the day with a 3-2 victory in a remarkable game against Clach at Kynoch Park.
The Maroons produced three goals inside four minutes in the first half, but manager Darren Still still labelled the peformance "poor".
That's because the home side were outplayed for much of the game.
Despite Clach having the edge, Andy McAskill broke the deadlock in 38 minutes with a 20-yard drive, and three minutes later Cammy Keith headed in a second.
Another minute on and Cammy pounced on a defensive blunder to make it 3-0. The half-time lead flattered the Maroons and Clach refused to give up by strenghtening their grip on the game with a storming second half fight-back.
Alan Pollock scored from the penalty spot on the hour mark and Scott Graham reduced the leeway further with a header from a corner in 71 minutes.
Graham saw another header crash against the post.
Still admitted to being relieved to hear the final whistle. "We started poorly and didn't get much better. We were only saved by showing the ruthless streak we have in our finishing.
"Clach should feel really proud of their performance and unlucky they didn't get anything out of the game."
Champions Buckie Thistle maintained their slim title hopes with a 2-1 win at Rothes.
They got off to a great start with goals from Martin Charlesworth and Zander Sutherland in the opening eight minutes. Michael Fletcher got one back for the Speysiders from the penalty spot in the 53rd minute.
Lossiemouth earned a point in a 2-2 draw with Deveronvale at Grant Park thanks to a Nikki Smith leveller ten minutes from the end. Ross Archibald had given Lossie a half-time lead before Graeme Watt and Graeme Rodger put the Banff side ahead in the second half.
Neale Davidson put Huntly ahead after 11 minutes against Cove, but second half goals from Martin Johnston and Jordan Leyden secured the points for the visitors.
Other results: Locos 3, Fort William 0; Nairn 1, Fraserburgh 1; Strathspey Thistle 2, Brora Rangers 0; Turriff 4, Wick 3.
