Highland League: Huntly crush Keith while Rothes fall to late Banks o’ dee revival and Brechin City beat Brora Rangers to claim top spot

A stunning 7-0 win, a brilliant goal in the Moray derby and a change in leadership after the top-of-the-table clash - it was quite a Highland League football Saturday.

The biggest win of the day came at Christie Park where Huntly demolished Keith, just days after doing a similar job on Forres Mechanics.

Colin Charlesworth’s side scored five unanswered goals at Forres and added seven more against a Maroons side who played for over an hour with only ten men.

On-form striker Sam Robertson put Huntly ahead on just two minutes and after Ryan Robertson was sent off for the visitors, the floodgates opened.

Adding to Keith’s woes, their goalkeeper Craig Reid dislocated his shoulder and with no sub goalie they had to put defender Scott Barron between the sticks.

Owen Morris scored twice either side of half time, Lewis Crosbie made it four and the soon-to-be-retiring Alex Thoirs added number five.

Sub Brodie Allen, recalled from a loan spell at Lossiemouth, came on to score twice and wrap up a terrific win for the Black and Golds.

In the Moray derby at Mosset Park, a sensational 35-yard Matty Jamieson goal for Forres Mechanics wasn’t quite enough to defeat Buckie Thistle.

Jamieson’s wonder goal put the Cans ahead on 34 minutes and they held that lead until the closing ten minutes when former Elgin City team-mate Fin Allen levelled to grab a point for Jags.

Bottom-of-the-league Rothes led third-placed Banks o’ Dee at the break thanks to Shaun Morrison’s goal and the Speysiders remained ahead until midway through the second half, opening up the possibility of a massive shock.

But Iain Vigurs’ equaliser for Dee was the catalyst for a late Rothes collapse, with Hamish MacLeod (2), Max Alexander and Liam Duell all adding to the Aberdonians’ tally in a devastating 20-minute spell, clinching a 5-1 win.

Brechin City moved back to the top of the league, dethroning Brora Rangers in the top-of-the-league match at Dudgeon Park.

Two goals in two minutes in the first half by Brechin’s Ewan Loudon set up a priceless 2-0 win for Ray McKinnon’s team.

Kyle Henderson scored a hat-trick for Wick Academy against Lossiemouth for the second time this season to earn a 4-1 win for the Caithness outfit at Harmsworth Park.

Henderson’s treble at Grant Park in October led Wick to a 3-1 win and he repeated the feat on Saturday, with George Ewing also on target for the Scorries.

Owen Loveland netted a consolation for Lossie after they had young defender Oli Hodgson sent off for a second booking.

There was late drama at The Haughs, where Turriff United led Clach through Reece McKeown’s 68th minute goal until the final minute when Josh Meekings levelled for the Inverness visitors - but that wasn’t the end of the scoring.

Into stoppage time, Kieran Yeats fired home what proved to be Turriff’s winner.

Deveronvale went down to their seventh straight defeat after Formartine United were 2-1 winners at Princess Royal Park.

Julian Wade and a first for the club for Glenn Murison had united 2-0 up at the break and although Cammy Angus pulled one back for Vale, the visitors held on for the three points.

Scott Barbour’s 19th goal of the season and a Fraser Mackie second half goal landed Fraserburgh a 2-0 win over Nairn County at Bellslea Park.

Inverurie Locos were too strong for Strathspey Thistle at the Harlaw Park, running in five goals without reply.

Josh Bolton got two in the first half with Lloyd Robertson and Daniel Agnew also on target as Locos built up a 4-0 half time lead, and Cole Anderson added one more on 76 minutes.