Saved penalty helps Strathspey Jags earn win at Fort William
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FORT William failed to fire on the opening day of the Highland League season on Saturday as they slid to a 2-1 home defeat against Strathspey Thistle – although a late spot-kick save made all the difference.
Ally Ewen's revamped Lochaber side were looking to get a win under their belts following their defeat at Rothes the weekend before in the AJG Parcels North of Scotland Cup.
However, it was the Jags who marched in front after 17 minutes when Josh Peters collected a long pass, kept his cool and finished past keeper Douglas MacLellan.
What proved to be the killer goal arrived just after half-time when Fort's Andrew Macpherson headed a cross into the box past MacLellan.
Vice captain Darren Quigg offered some hope to Fort when he scored from the penalty spot after Ian MacLennan was brought down in the box by Jordan Wardrope.
Quigg had the chance to salvage a point late in the game when he saw his second penalty of the afternoon saved by Michael MacCallum after Maclennan again was brought down in the area.
Clach captain Gordon Morrison was a hat-trick hero as he fired his team to a stunning 3-0 win at Wick Academy on the opening day of the new Highland League season.
The hosts, who dumped Brora out of the AJG Parcels North of Scotland Cup on penalties in midweek, began on the fornt foot and the Inverness side had to weather the storm early on.
Recent Clach recruit, keeper Errol Watson, was kept busy and he dealt with a shot from Davie Allan and a home header from a corner.
Clach came more into the contest in the second half and Morrison opened the scoring on 54 minutes when he steered home a cross from Calum Macdonald.
It was 2-0 soon after as Morrison netted from the spot following striker Daniel Maclennan being felled in the box by Grant Steven.
He completed the job with a third goal with 12 minutes to go when he diverted a David McGurk header beyond goalkeeper Sean McCarthy.
Conor Gethins got his and Nairn County's Highland League season off to a winning start as he scored the only goal against Inverurie Locos at Station Park on Saturday.
It was a tense, nervy and low-key first half and one of the main talking points was the appearance of former Caley Thistle, Ross County and Motherwell midfielder Iain Vigurs for Locos.
The decisive strike from Gethins came six minutes into the second half when he latched on to a fine pass from Robbie Duncanson and steered a low drive beyond keeper Scott Mathieson into the net.
Mathieson kept Locos in the hunt with saves from Duncanson then Gethins as Nairn tried to kill off their opponents.
At the other end, Adam Naismith was on hand to deny Jordan Leyland as his effort headed for goal.
Locos were pressing for a share of the spoils and Neil Maclean hit the woodwork with a powerful low shot.
The last real chance of the match fell to Nairn's JohnCameron who served a shot just wide late on.
Turriff United were the biggest opening day winners as they defeated visitors Huntly 5-1, with Cove Rangers also on form with a 5-2 victory at home to Buckie Thistle.
Keith also hit the goal trail as they posted a 4-1 win at Rothes, Formartine United edged past Forres Mechanics 1-0 and Deveronvale and Fraserburgh shared four goals in Banff.
Highland League champions Brora Rangers were in Petrofac Challenge Cup action and they slid to a 1-0 home defeat against newly-promoted Championship visitors Alloa Athletic.
