Grant header seals draw for Clach against champions Cove Rangers
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
CLACH held Highland League champions Cove Rangers to a 2-2 draw in an entertaining tussle at Grant Street Park last night (Wednesday).
The Inverness side were minus four key men for this encounter.
Goalkeeper John Campbell was on holiday, defender David McGurk was on honeymoon and midfielder Duncan Jones and winger Blair Lawrie were injured.
The visitors, in their change colours of yellow, began with a real sense of purpose and Blair Yule's early cross from the right was just nicked away from the boot of the in-rushing Mitch Megginson.
On 21 minutes, Megginson's free-kick flew just wide of goal when the slightest touch would most likely have taken it past keeper Aiden Macdonald, who looked confident in in goals for the hosts.
Cove continued to press, but against the run of play, Clach took the lead on 34 minutes when Paul Smith swerved a terrific shot beyond keeper Stuart MacKenzie following a swift attack down the right flank.
Cove, as expected, hit back though and it was 1-1 just four minutes before the break when Kevin Buchan controlled the ball at the edge of the box and guided his shot low past Macdonald.
Both teams continued to attack from the start of the second half and it was Cove who took a 2-1 lead when Megginson tucked the ball away from close range after fine link-up play between Harry Milne and Grant Campbell.
So, 2-1 down against the in-form champions, Clach had it all to do, but Iain Polworth's team raised their levels again and defender Matthew Grant powered a pin-point header into the net from a Smith corner to restore parity.
Cove were reduced to 10 men with 10 minutes to go when Yule retaliated after being brought down by Smith and referee David Watt sent the visiting player packing.
Cove pressed for a late winner, but Clach held on for a deserved share of the spoils.
Nairn County struck back from a goal down at Fort William to win 2-1 and ensure they didn't replace their hosts at the bottom of the table.
Fort, who have been scoring plenty of goals this season but failing to keep them out, sensed their opportunity for lift-off in this fixture and forward Michael Ellis shot them in front early on with a fine looped ball over keeper Dylan Mackenzie.
Ronnie Sharp's side, who fell meekly against Strathspey Thistle on Saturday, were up against it, but equalised on the hour mark when Paul Macleod headed home from a corner whipped in by Ross Naismith.
The winner at Claggan Park arrived 10 minutes from time when Dylan Mackenzie headed the ball past Fort's trialist goalkeeper after he was picked out by Stephen Mackenzie.
Ally Ewen's team, who were crushed 8-3 by Wick on Saturday, were much improved, but late pressure failed to earn them a share of the spoils and Nairn headed up the road with the points.
At the top of the league, Buckie Thistle look unstoppable as they made it nine straight wins with a 5-2 victory at sixth-placed Lossiemouth, which keeps them five points clear at the top.
John McLeod, who netted the Jags' fourth goal of the night, is the division's top scorers with a impressive 19 goals by mid-September.
Brora Rangers, the league winners two years ago, are Buckie's closest rivals after they won the far north derby at Wick Academy 2-1.
First half strikes from Zander Sutherland and Andrew Greig put Brora on the way to victory and, despite a Davie Allan reply, Wick could not find an equaliser against their rivals.
Elsewhere last night, Formartine United are fourth following their crushing 6-1 home win against Rothes, Forres Mechanics won 3-1 at Strathspey Thistle, Fraserburgh notched a 4-2 victory at Huntly, Inverurie Locos hit two without reply at home to Deveronvale and Turriff United edged a cracker 3-2 against visitors Keith.
*** Saturday's games: Buckie Thistle v Huntly, Cove Rangers v Strathspey Thistle, Deveronvale v Brora Rangers, Forres Mechanics v Fort William, Fraserburgh v Inverurie Locos, Keith v Lossiemouth, Nairn County v Wick Academy, Rothes v Clach, Turriff United v Formartine United.
