Highland League football: Rothes’ first win since August lifts them off bottom despite Strathspey Thistle draw and Huntly strike late to defeat Inverurie Locos in derby
Rothes climbed off the bottom of the Highland League with a crucial victory over Turriff United on Saturday.
The struggling pair met at MacKessack Park in the early kick off with managerless Rothes collecting their first win since a success at Nairn County on August 16.
All the goals came in the first 45 minutes with Jamie Young and Shane Harkness putting the Speysiders 2-0 up inside 15 minutes.
Turriff hit back to level through Murray Cormack and Reece McKeown but Taylor Thain’s first Rothes goal since a mid-season switch from Forres Mechanics proved to be the winner on the stroke of half time.
The Rothes win took them back above Strathspey Thistle, despite the Grantown side’s creditable 2-2 draw at home to Fraserburgh.
Lossiemouth are now just two points off the bottom despite leading hosts Buckie Thistle for three quarters of the match, eventually going down 2-1.
Forres were hit by a late Clach goal blitz in their 4-2 defeat at Grant Street Park.
Huntly produced one of the results of the day with a 3-2 win at Inverurie Locos.
Just like Rothes, the Christie Park men surrendered a 2-0 advantage before grabbing a winner.
Sam Robertson gave the visitors a half time lead and when Angus Grant plundered his 20th goal of the season on 56 minutes, Locos looked beaten.
But they hit back through a Mark Souter goal and a Paul Coutts penalty to level going into the final 10 minutes.
The spot was pointed to one more time in stoppage time as Huntly were awarded a late penalty and Robertson stepped up to score against his previous club and win all three points for Huntly.
Leaders Brechin City proved too strong for Formartine United as first goals by Fraser MacLeod, Dayle Robertson and Ewan Loudon earned a 3-1, Aaron Norris replying for United.
Two of the challenging sides met in Aberdeen where goals by Andy Macrae and Shane Sutherland earned Brora Rangers a 2-0 win at Banks o’ Dee to bolster their title hopes.
Keith came from behind to beat Deveronvale 3-1 at Kynoch Park.
Keane Matheson’s early goal have Vale in front before on-loan Formartine youngster Brody Alberts netted for the second league game running to make it 1-1 at the break.
Liam Duncan edged the Maroons in front just after half time and Nathan McKeown’s fourth goal of the season in stoppage time sealed it for Keith.
Three goals in the final 25 minutes from Andrew Greig (2) and Matty Wright earned Nairn County a 3-0 success over Wick Academy.
