Fort edge past Deveronvale for first win of the season
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
A LATE Scott Chisholm goal earned Fort William their first win of the Highland League season on Saturday as they defeated visitors Deveronvale 2-1.
The Lochaber side, now managed by Ally Ewen, had failed to get going this season after a huge turnaround in personnel.
They took the lead after 12 minutes when Danny McIntosh fired the ball beyond Grant Pennet into the net after being played through by Lewis Morrison.
Vale suffered a blow when Gary Harris had to go off with an injury. He was replaced by Sean Keith.
Pennet pulled off two terrific saves, one from Ian Maclellan and another from Lewis Morrison to ensure Fort remained just one goal to the good.
Deveronvale drew level on 55 minutes when Stuart Leslie scored past keeper Robin Harvey when he connected with a cross from Graeme Watt from the right side of the pitch.
Fort got back into the contest though and, with seven minutes left, Chisholm's deflected effort beat Pennet to seal all three points for the hosts.
Clach were unlucky to lose 3-2 to a last-gasp clincher at Buckie Thistle in a cracking Highland League encounter at Victoria Park on Saturday.
The only goal of the first half came for the Jags as Ian MacRae pounced to head home a corner from Chris Hegarty after just 12 minutes.
Assistant player/boss Lewis Mackinnon put Buckie two ahead on 64 minutes with another header from a Hegarty cross on 64 minutes.
Clach didn't buckle and, eight minutes later, gave themselves a lifeline thanks to a Gordon Morrison penalty before Martin Callum's fine finish brought the game level at 2-2.
Another set-piece was to lead to Buckie's winner though as MacRae headed home a delivery from substitute Stuart Taylor.
Nairn County were made to work hard for their 3-0 Highland League victory over struggling hosts Rothes at the weekend.
Rothes, who have yet to pick up a point this season, went into the match on the back of a 12-2 battering by Clach the week before.
Nairn manager Les Fridge had warned ahead of the game that the Speysiders had nothing to lose and they certainly put up a better show.
However, the win for Nairn keeps them just three points off top spot ahead of Saturday's home game against Buckie.
Defender Sean Webb's hot scoring streak continued when he got his third of the season as he headed Nairn into a 10th minute lead.
Visiting keeper Callum Antell saved well from Ryan Keir before Matty Bobrowski shot over the top as Rothes threatened.
An ice-cool Conor Gethins goal with 20 minutes to go came at a good time for Nairn and he added another to make it 3-0 to take his tally to five for the campaign.
Champions Brora Rangers were toppled for first place as Cove Rangers rocked them with a 3-0 Highland League victory on Saturday.
This was Brora's first league loss since Fraserburgh beat them in December 2013 and will fire a warning to all that Cove are genuine title contenders as they moved joint-top of the league as a result of the win.
In a game played at Harlaw Park, Inverurie, Daryl Nicol was the main man for Cove with a brace after Jamie Watt had opened the scoring.
Brora had the chance to draw level when they trailed 1-0 but Zander Sutherland saw his spot-kick saved by keeper Stuart McKenzie.
Turriff United are the new leaders on goal difference as they hit back from one goal down to defeat visitors Wick Academy 2-1, while chasers Formartine United thumped Lossiemouth 8-2 away.
Elsewhere, Forres Mechanics won 2-0 at Strathspey Thistle, Huntly scored their first win over Inverurie Locos since November 2009 as they ran out 2-1 home winners and Fraserburgh were 2-1 victors at Keith.
