Saturday 25 February
Clachnacuddin 3 Huntly 1
Huntly's hopes of retaining the championship were ended after Clachnacuddin came from a goal down to secure a 3-1 win at Grant Street Park writes Grant Turner.

Both sides rang the changes from last week with the hosts welcoming top scorer Alex Bone back from suspension. Huntly had Neil Reid included in the squad again following his 1 match ban while young Grant Pennet started in goal in place of the absence Ryszard Gorski.

Huntly attacked from the start and Gary McGowan broke down the left flank and got in between two players only to be bundled over at the edge of the area but any claims for a foul were waved away by Referee Scott MacDonald.
Two minutes later, Clach's Alex Bone fired wide of the post after Bruce McCraw got the better of Lee McGregor to provide a pass for his strike partner.

Levi Stephen tried his luck from a dead ball on the quarter hour mark forcing Ally Ridgers to dive low to save. Stephen was again the creator shortly after, delivering a corner from the right to Richard Craig who saw a shot blocked on the line.

The visitor's passed up another good chance to open the scoring midway through the half. Stephen set McGowan clear on the left and the youngster's dangerous cross was punched away by Ridgers only to fall to Matty Gairns who blasted the ball over the bar unmarked.

Alex Bone was spoken to by the Referee in 34 minutes after a verbal exchange towards the Huntly support in the stand.

Three minutes later, Simon Scott gained possession on the left and set Levi Stephen clear only for Ally Ridgers to bring the midfielder down inside the box for a penalty. Ross Campbell stepped up from the spot and struck the ball down the middle but Ridgers was quick to react and blocked the attempt. The rebound only went as far as Campbell for made no mistake for his sixth goal of the season.

Ridgers was called into action again in the 39th minute denying McGowan with another good save.

Half Time: Clachnacuddin 0 Huntly 1

Three minutes into the half, Bone fired another shot wide of the post while Bruce McCraw was also off-target as the home side were restricted to shot from distance.

Despite passing up a number of decent chances, the Lilywhites took advantage of a mis-communication in the Huntly defence to level the score with their first attempt on target. When Dave Mackay crossed into the goalmouth, Grant Pennet and Ross Campbell both tried to go for the ball at the same time allowing Alex Bone to get in between the two to turn the ball wide of the keeper for his 24th goal of the season.

Things got worse for Huntly in 57 minutes as skipper Russell Guild pulled up with a hamstring injury and had to be replaced by Richie Taylor.
Despite the setback, the black and golds battled back as Matty Gairns got round the back of Gary Black and squared the ball for McGowan who failed to trouble Ridgers with his effort.

As McGowan broke away from Steven MacLean in 69 minutes, the former Forres defender was penalised for a foul on the winger. From the resultant free kick, Stephen chipped the ball over the top for Taylor only for the sub to fire high over the bar.

By this stage, Clach were getting back into the game and the returning Grant Pennet had to be quick off his line to deny Bone with a great reflex save.
Minutes later, the woodwork came to Huntly's aid as Blair Lawrie's cross was headed down by David Ross only to come back off the far post.

In the 83rd minute, Graham Green got the by-line and cut the ball back to Richard Craig who wasted a great chance hitting the ball straight at the keeper.
A minute later Clach took the lead on the counter attack. Gordon McNab played a high ball into substitute Lewis Ross who got round the back of the Huntly defence to give Pennet no chance as he fired high into the net.

With three minutes to go, the home side sealed the points after Blair Lawrie's corner was headed back across goal by Lewis Ross for Neil MacCuish who headed in his first goal since early September.

Into stoppage time, the impressive Blair Lawrie won the ball in his own half and was bearing down on goal but Pennet got down low to deny the winger.

The defeat sees Huntly slip down a place to third following Buckie Thistle's draw at Cove. Deveronvale now extended their lead at the top of the table to 7 points following victory at Wick.