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Goals galore in the Breedon Highland League football season - but who were the top marksmen?


By Craig Christie

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The Breedon Highland League season produced a thrilling finale, with the last goal scored by the most deadly marksman.

Brechin goal getter Grady McGrath. Picture: Daniel Forsyth..
Brechin goal getter Grady McGrath. Picture: Daniel Forsyth..

Brechin City lifted the title in their second league campaign after netting twice in the closing minutes of their league decider at Buckie Thistle last week.

That 2-0 victory was clinched by star striker Grady McGrath racing through to net the 35th strike of his debut Highland League season.

McGrath finished as the league's top scorer in all competitions - and he could add to that tally in the League 2 play-offs, which begin with a semi-final first leg trip to Spartans tomorrow.

The Brechin forward was one of three players to manage at least 30 league and cup goals over the season.

Brora Rangers can lay claim to both others, as their two magical Macraes struck exactly 30 each for the club that finished the term with the most goals.

Brora's Jordan MacRae. Picture: James Mackenzie.
Brora's Jordan MacRae. Picture: James Mackenzie.

The Cattachs plundered a total of 134 goals with both Andy and Jordan Macrae reaching 30.

Andrew Macrae hit 30 goals for Brora. Picture: James Mackenzie.
Andrew Macrae hit 30 goals for Brora. Picture: James Mackenzie.

Just one behind was Buckie Thistle front man Josh Peters, who made the switch from Elgin City to Jags early in the campaign.

Josh Peters has enjoyed his return to Highland League football with Buckie. Picture: Beth Taylor.
Josh Peters has enjoyed his return to Highland League football with Buckie. Picture: Beth Taylor.

The former Hibs and Livingston player was denied a 30th by a goal-line clearance in last week's title decider. If that had found the net at 0-0, would Brechin have won the league?

Julian Wade's summer switch from Brechin to Formartine United paid off with a 27-goal tally matched by Fraserburgh strike machine Scott Barbour.

Julian Wade's switch from Brechin to Formartine brought 27 goals to the Pitmedden club. Picture: Phil Harman
Julian Wade's switch from Brechin to Formartine brought 27 goals to the Pitmedden club. Picture: Phil Harman

And Paul Campbell left Fraserburgh mid-season after scoring nine times and topped up his total with new club Formartine.

League newcomers Banks O' Dee were hit by a steep points penalty early in the season but still managed well over 100 goals, Lachie McLeod weighing in with an impressive 22 in his debut senior term.

Top goalscorers (all competitions):

35 - Grady McGrath (Brechin City)

30 - Andy Macrae, Jordan Macrae (both Brora Rangers)

29 - Josh Peters (Buckie Thistle)

27 - Julian Wade (Formartine United), Scott Barbour (Fraserburgh)

22 - Lachie MacLeod (Banks O' Dee)

21 - Andy MacAskill (Buckie Thistle), Paul Campbell (Formartine United - 9 for Fraserburgh)

18 - Sean Butcher (Fraserburgh), Aiden Wilson (Rothes)

17 - Dane Ballard (Deveronvale), Ewan Clark (Turriff United)

16 - Marc Scott (Brechin City), Ben Barron (Forres Mechanics), Jonny Smith (Inverurie Locos - 10 for Formartine), Aaron Reid (Turriff - now Aberdeen)

15 - Neil Gauld, Kane Winton (both Banks O' Dee), James Anderson (Clachnacuddin), Ryan Sargent (Fraserburgh)

14 - Tony Dingwall (Brora Rangers), Scott Adams (Buckie Thistle), Rob Ward (Inverurie Locos), Conor Gethins (Nairn County)

13 - Andy Hunter (Huntly), Garry Wood (Inverurie Locos)

12 - Botti Biabi (Brechin City), Gregor MacDonald, Max Ewan (both Brora Rangers)

11 - Mark Gilmour (Banks O' Dee), Jack Murray (Buckie Thistle)

10 - Magnus Watson (Banks O' Dee), Anthony McDonald (Brechin City), Kyle MacLeod (Buckie Thistle), Connor Bunce (Clachnacuddin), Shaun Morrison (Forres Mechanics), Greg Morrison (Rothes).

Leading scorers at each club (all competitions):

Banks O' Dee - Lachie MacLeod (22)

Brechin City - Grady McGrath (35)

Brora Rangers - Andy Macrae, Jordan Macrae (30)

Buckie Thistle - Josh Peters (29)

Clachnacuddin - James Anderson (15)

Deveronvale - Dane Ballard (17)

Formartine United - Julian Wade (27)

Forres Mechanics - Ben Barron (16)

Fraserburgh - Scott Barbour (27)

Huntly - Andy Hunter (13)

Inverurie Locos - Rob Ward (14)

Keith - Kieran Mooney (7)

Lossiemouth - Liam Archibald (9)

Nairn County - Conor Gethins (14)

Rothes - Aidan Wilson (18)

Strathspey Thistle - Aidan Cruickshank (5 - on loan from Elgin City)

Turriff United - Ewan Clark (17)

Wick Academy - Gordon MacNab (9)


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