Saturday 10 September
Fort William 1 Huntly 9

Despite falling behind after only four minutes, Huntly came from behind to defeat Fort William 9-1 at Claggan Park and record their highest win since November 1999 writes Grant Turner.

Defender Scott Anderson returned from injury while Richard Craig was making his first start since February last year. There was also a recall for Richard Stainer who was amongst the subs bench following injury to Darren Shallicker.

With 3 minutes gone a through ball from Gary McGowan set up Ally Reid who was denied by Mark McRitchie who quickly came out of his box to clear.

The visitors were stunned a minute later. Jon Hewitt found Mark Dougall who opened the scoring by rifling the ball in off the underside of the bar for Fort William's first home goal this term

The lead lasted all of 6 minutes. Simon Scott's cross from the left was headed back across goal into the path of top scorer Jerry O'Driscoll to side foot home from a tight angle.

Huntly went into the lead after 12 minutes when a forward header by Ross Campbell picked out Gary McGowan on the left flank. McGowan's quick pass picked out Richard Craig who beat the offside trap to net his first competitive goal in 18 months.
A minute later, Campbell saw a header cleared off the line by Shane Carling after McGowan swung in a corner.

The bottom side came close to levelling on the quarter hour mark. Campbell took down goalscorer Dougall 25 yards from goal. From the resultant free kick, Richard Bowman tipped over from Scott Barlow's effort.

Ally Reid went on a solo in 24 minutes only to be denied by McRitchie. The ball came loose to McGowan only for his effort to be cleared off the line by Mark Caldwell.

The champions extended their lead on 29 minutes when Neil Reid burst forward and got round his marker to cross for Jerry O'Driscoll to find the top corner with a bullet header.

Half Time: Fort William 1 Huntly 3

Winger Gary McGowan had been causing the home defence problems and neat play by the winger picked out O'Driscoll in the 53rd minute but thankfully for the home defence the former Dundee striker headed over.
Seconds later a great through ball from Levi Stephen released Richard Craig who rounded McRitchie to slot home number four.

Craig's return to the starting eleven was capped off when he completed his hat-trick only 5 minutes later. A crossfield ball by Neil Reid found McGowan who was once again the provider for Richard Craig to flick past McRitchie to claim his treble.

Huntly made a double substitution on the hour with Alan Redford and Martin Fellowes replacing Simon Scott and Richard Craig.

Fort William sent on Graeme Bamber for Scott Barlow in the 71st minute but Bamber would have a return to first team action to forget. As sub Martin Fellowes hit what looked to be a harmless shot just inside the area, the ball ricocheted off the hand of Bamber. Bamber was shown a straight red card by Referee Ronnie Wright for what may have been deemed as a last man offence and Huntly were rewarded with a penalty kick.
Regular spot kick taker Ross Campbell stepped aside to allow Jerry O'Driscoll to drill his kick low past McRitchie to net his second hat-trick against the Lochaber side.

Bad defending saw Huntly add a seventh when Mo Macmillan could only clear Stephen's cross as far as Graham Green. The sub gathered the ball to drill a shot low past McRitchie for his first goal in 13 months.

With a minute remaining, O'Driscoll delivered a left wing cross for Fellowes. The big striker cut the back for Mark Gray to tap in from close range.

Almost straight after the restart, Huntly were on the attack once again as O'Driscoll made a switch to Ally Reid who left his marker in his wake before curling a left footer from the edge of the area.

There is no change at the top of the table with the top four all winning their games and Huntly now have a two point gap over second placed Forres Mechanics.