Highland League: Forres Mechanics win seven-goal thriller against Wick Academy, Deveronvale stun Brora Rangers, Lossiemouth and Buckie Thistle win at home

Forres Mechanics came out on the right end of a 4-3 thriller for the second time in a week to defeat Wick Academy at Mosset Park.

The Can-Cans won a match that saw both teams reduced to 10 men - Wick in the first half and Mechanics in the second.

Wick took the lead through Gary Pullen in the 14th minute, but Forres - who beat Huntly 4-3 on Wednesday - levelled five minutes later through Kyle MacLeod.

Owen Rendall was sent off for the visitors before the break and Forres went in ahead thanks to Jordan Alonge’s added time strike.

The Cans were reduced to 10 men three minutes after the change of ends when goal scorer MacLeod was dismissed.

Forres, though, extended their lead through Mark McLauchlan on 53 minutes.

Wick pulled it back to 3-3 with a goal from Gordon MacNab and Pullen’s second, before Matt Jamieson set up Calum Frame to score Forres’ winner 10 minutes from time.

Deveronvale provided the shock of the afternoon with a sensational 3-2 success at Princess Royal Park against title-chasing Brora Rangers.

Full of confidence after a midweek derby win at Turriff United, Vale flew into a 2-0 lead with Ben Hermiston firing in a double in the opening 18 minutes.

Brora pulled a goal back through Colin Williamson on 48 minutes - but the expected comeback didn’t arrive.

Vale restored their two-goal lead through Rogan Read before the hour mark and held on to win despite Shane Sutherland’s late strike for the Cattachs.

Brora’s slip up gave Brechin City the chance to extend their lead at the Highland League summit to seven points - and they did so, albeit with a narrow 2-1 win over second-bottom Rothes.

Euan Loudon gave City the lead on three minutes, but saw a penalty saved by Sean McCarthy just 10 minutes later. Seth Patrick’s goal on 14 minutes gave Brechin a comfortable advantage.

But the league leaders’ goal scoring ended there - with the game’s only other goal going to Rothes’ Ross Logan, who notched from long distance in the dying stages.

That battling performance will give Rothes plenty of encouragement - but they are now only three points ahead of bottom club Strathspey, who picked up a point in a 3-3 draw at Nairn County.

Ben Barron notched a hat-trick for the home side, but goals from Paul Brindle, Filip Franczak and a Liam Shewan penalty earned the league’s bottom side a share of the spoils.

Lossiemouth moved clear of the bottom with a superb 3-1 victory over Fraserburgh at Grant Park.

The Coasters trailed to a Logan Watt goal heading into the final quarter of an hour, but Brodie Christie’s double and a third from David Gofton gave Lossie a big victory.

Buckie Thistle’s return to form continued with a 4-1 victory over Turriff United. The Jags took the lead inside three minutes through Dale Wood, but were pegged back by a Timi Fatona goal.

Marcus Goodall put Buckie ahead at half-time and added his second late on, after Kevin Fraser had notched the clinching goal in the 82nd minute.

Third-placed Inverurie Loco Works continued their fine run of form with a 3-0 victory over Keith at Kynoch Park.

A goal in each half from Aidan Wilson and a Jay Halliday effort gave Locos a convincing success over third-bottom Keith.

Formartine United and Banks O’ Dee were winners over Huntly and Clachnacuddin in the league’s final two matches.

Formartine were 2-0 up inside 22 minutes through Julian Wade and Callum Youngson, and the score remained that way until Owen Morris scored for Huntly in stoppage time. Tyler Mykyta finished the game off at 3-1 in the 93rd minute.

Banks O’ Dee were 3-0 victors over Clachnacuddin in Inverness thanks to goals from Lachie Macleod, Iain Vigurs and a Liam Duell spot kick.