Highland League round-up: Fraserburgh go 12 points clear, Forres Mechanics comeback stalls Inverurie Locos, Buckie Thistle and Rothes move up table with wins
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FOUR late goals guided Fraserburgh to a 7-0 win over Keith to extend their lead at the top of the Highland League.
Inverurie Locos surrendered second spot after losing a 2-0 lead against Forres Mechanics and sliding behind Buckie Thistle and Rothes, who both won.
A depleted Keith side kept Fraserburgh at bay in the first quarter but a Scott Barbour goal broke the deadlock.
Bryan Hay added a second in the opening minute of the second half and Barbour's 15th of the season made it 3-0.
Keith were awarded a penalty but Dem Yunus hit the post with his kick.
It stayed 3-0 until the closing nine minutes when two Paul Young goals in a minute, then two more by Sean Butcher took the leaders home in style.
Inverurie got off to a flying start against Forres with Ryan Broadhurst opening the scoring on two minutes and Kieran Shanks made it 2-0 from the spot.
Mechanics got one back through Paul Brindle, who then levelled three minutes after half time.
Lee Fraser hit the bar for Forres who had chances to win it but had to settle for their seventh draw of the campaign.
Buckie went second as goals by Andy MacAskill and Marcus Goodall earned a 2-0 success at Huntly.
Rothes bounced back from their first defeat in 16 competitive matches in midweek by defeating Deveronvale 3-0.
After a goalless first half, Fraser Robertson scored within a minute and Jack Brown added two more to guide the Speysiders to full points.
Lossiemouth's fine home form continued with a 2-0 success over bottom side Fort William, Ryan Sewell's penalty and a Brodie Allen goal lifting the Coasters out of the bottom six.
Brora Rangers' good form continued with a 4-0 success at Clach.
Adam Mackinnon, Gregor MacDonald, Andy Macrae and Ally MacDonald were on target for the Cattachs.
Formartine United were too strong for Turriff United in the derby clash at North Lodge Park, winning 5-0.
Scott Lisle opened the scoring and Ryan Spink's first goal for the club made it 2-0 inside 20 minutes.
Second half goals by Kevin Hanratty, Tyler Mykyta and Jonny Smith's 16th goal of the campaign took the home team to victory after Turriff had Ethan Smith sent off.
Brechin City continue to impress in their first Highland League season, staying in the chasing pack with a 2-1 win at Wick Academy.
All the goals came in the second half with Marc Scott and Hamish Thomson putting Brechin two up within five minutes of the restart, Davie Allan got one back but Scott sealed City's win at the death.
Nairn County came from behind to win at Strathspey Thistle with Craig MacKenzie putting Jags ahead at the break and Conor Gethins levelling for County, before Dylan Mackenzie scored a stoppage time winner for the visitors.
