Goals galore in Highland League as top three sides run riot with Forres Mechanics, Keith and Deveronvale on receiving end
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THE gap between the top Highland League sides and the rest was highlighted on a night of high scoring last night.
The top four sides all posted victories with Fraserburgh, Buckie Thistle and Brora Rangers all boosting their goal difference in their quest to take the title chase to the wire.
Buckie Thistle clocked up their 17th consecutive league win in comfortable fashion, beating Keith 6-0 on a rain-sodden Kynoch Park.
Max Barry's early strike opened the floodgates with Andy MacAskill adding a penalty, and both Sam Pugh and Scott Adams netting doubles including a second penalty scored by Pugh to record Jags 100th league goal of the campaign.
It was raining goals at Mosset Park too, as Forres Mechanics' brief revival was ended by a ruthless Brora.
The Cans had won three and drawn one of their previous four games but were missing eight players for the visit of the Cattachs' who showed them no mercy.
Max Ewan scored a first half hat-trick and a Dale Gillespie penalty had the Sutherland men four-up at the break as the Forres youngsters were given a lesson.
Ex-Mechanics man Andy Macrae also scored a treble in the second half and Jordan MacRae's 26th strike of the season had Brora 8-0 up after 62 minutes before they took the foot off the gas.
Wednesday's Highland League results:
Deveronvale 0 Fraserburgh 6
Forres Mechanics 0 Brora Rangers 8
Fort William 0 Nairn County 4 (at Nairn)
Keith 0 Buckie Thistle 6
Rothes 0 Brechin City 1
Leaders Fraserburgh were equally ruthless on the road against struggling Deveronvale and recorded a 6-0 win at Princess Royal Park.
The highlight in Banff was a long range cracker by Broch marksman Scott Barbour - his 30th goal of the season - while Willie West (2), Sean Butcher, Paul Young and sub Logan Watt added to Vale's misery.
Rothes' outside chance of a title challenge was hampered by a 1-0 defeat at home to Brechin City, who remain on the fringes of the league hunt.
Julian Wade's second half header settled a close contest at Mackessack Park with the home side left to reflect on a series of missed chances on the night.
The pattern of away wins continued - of sorts - with Nairn County's 4-0 success over Fort William.
Fort were officially the home side but with all their home matches being played at their opponents' grounds, Station Park witnessed a comfortable success for the Wee County.
It now looks ominous for the Lochaber side who remain eight points adrift of Strathspey Thistle and prime candidates to be involved in a play-off to preserve their Highland League status.
Tom Maclennan netted a penalty for the second game running for Nairn and further goals by recent signing Cammy Lisle, veterans Glenn Main and Conor Gethins landed the full points.
