Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Nine the magic number for the league’s top two
BROUGHTY Athletic finish the year as Midlands League leaders and go into the two-week break nine points clear of second-placed Lochee United after their 3-1 victory at Kirrie Thistle.
It was goalless at half-time with Broughty taking the lead two minutes after the restart through Ruari Henry, and there was a flurry of goals in the final 10 minutes.
Fraser Matthews doubled the lead on 83 minutes with Bryan Duell pulling a goal back with a minute to go, but the Fed had the final say as Derryn Kesson scored their third in time added on.
Lochee United ran riot at Blairgowrie with Bobby Linn, Kerr Hay and Scott McComiskie all scoring doubles in their 9-0 win.
Danny Cavanagh, Corey Gray and George Johnstone completed the rout.
The Bluebells may be nine points behind Broughty but they do have two games in hand.
North End remain in third spot after coming from behind to beat Carnoustie 2-1.
The Gowfers got off to a quick start with a goal in the first minute scored by Dale Reid but the Dokens replied four minutes later through Jack Allan, then Jamie Richardson knocked home what proved to be the winner on 37 minutes.
East Craigie suffered a 2-0 home defeat from
Scone Thistle. Paul Leask opened the scoring after seven minutes and Kairn Brand doubled the lead on 30 minutes.
Dundee Violet added to Coupar Angus’s woes when their 1-0 victory at Glenesk ensured the Foxhall club would end the year still looking for their first league victory. Pat Martin netted the winner for the Pansies.
Dundee St James go into the break on a high after beating Danny Low’s Forfar United 4-1.
The Fairfield side led 2-0 at half-time through Dylan Higgins and a Gordon own goal with Stewart McConnachie pulling a goal back two minutes into the second half.
Callum Mitchell struck a third for the hosts on 62 minutes and Logan Piggot completed the win in the final minute.
Downfield found their form in the second half to beat Arbroath Vics 4-1.
Vics nosed ahead through Connor McFarlane on 34 minutes but Liam McArtney made it 1-1 at half-time with a 44th-minute equaliser.
McArtney scored two more in the second half to complete his hat-trick and Callum McLeary bagged a fourth on 78 minutes.
Brechin Vics were 2-1 winners over visiting Letham. Vics took the lead through Murray Smith on 40 minutes and Aaron Morrison doubled the lead on 61 minutes.
Letham replied through a Mark Shaw penalty on 66 minutes.
Lochee Harp were thrashed 6-1 by an in-form Montrose Roselea.
Roselea were 5-1 ahead at the interval thanks to doubles from Martin and Smith and a single from Thomson.
Harp pulled one back through Black before Davidson completed the rout with 15 minutes to go.