COVE Rangers edged two points clear at the top of the Highland League on Saturday after a 2-2 draw with Keith at Allan Park, although second-placed Forres do have a couple of games in hand.
Martin Johnston put Cove ahead with an 11th-minute volley but a minute later the Maroons were awarded a penalty when Andy MacAskill was tripped in the box by Murray McCulloch. Cammy Keith duly tucked away the spot-kick.
The visitors then went in front on 16 minutes courtesy of a curling shot from Scott Fowlie, only for Cove’s Stirling Smith to level things up on the half-hour mark with a close-range finish.
The biggest surprise of the day was at Buckie, where bottom club Strathspey Thistle came back from two goals down to earn only their second point this term.
Mateusz Bobrowski was the hero for the Grantown Jags, netting both their goals after Mark Chisholm and Shawn Scott had put the defending champions two up inside the opening 12 minutes.
Bobrowski pulled one back in first-half injury time and the Polish striker netted again midway through the second period. Buckie were limited to a handful of chances thereafter and it ended 2-2.
Graham Johnston helped himself to a first-half hat-trick as Fraserburgh eased to 5-1 victory over Turriff United at Bellslea Park. Peter Alexander Bruce and Dean Cowie were also on target for the Broch before Turriff pulled one back when a Jerry O’Driscoll effort hit the crossbar and went in off home keeper Paul Leask.
Formartine United were 3-0 winners over Huntly at North Lodge Park. Following a goalless first half, Kyle Macaulay struck twice before Calum Bagshaw rounded off the scoring.
Lossiemouth moved above Huntly into ninth place after a 2-0 win against Brora Rangers at Dudgeon Park. The goals came inside a six-minute spell in the first half, Brora’s Stuart Golabek turning the ball into his own net for the opener before Ross Archibald punished another slip to double Lossie’s advantage.
Nicky Gordon’s second-half strike was enough to give Inverurie Locos a 1-0 victory over Deveronvale at Princess Royal Park.
Fort William’s home fixture against Nairn County was postponed, as was the Clach v Rothes game.
Highland League fixtures for Saturday, February 25: Forres Mechanics v Formartine United; Huntly v Cove Rangers; Inverurie Locos v Fort William; Keith v Clachnacuddin; Lossiemouth v Deveronvale; Nairn County v Fraserburgh; Rothes v Buckie Thistle; Strathspey Thistle v Brora Rangers; Turriff United v Wick Academy.
