IF HIGHLAND teams are expected to show deference to their Scottish
League visitors in the Scottish Cup, someone had better have a word with
Huntly.
Albion Rovers became the latest club to suffer at the hands of the
Northern upstarts, who even allowed the Coatbridge side the luxury of a
3-2 lead before sending them homewards with a devastating, late goal
flurry.
Rovers were the fourth senior side to be dumped by Huntly in the past
three seasons, and if everyone at Christie Park can rouse themselves in
time for the visit of Stranraer on Saturday, there could soon be a
fifth.
Tommy Gemmell had been quoted as saying it would be ''lunacy'' to
allow Highland teams into the Scottish League, his comments coming as
the first-round replay was postponed for a tenth time.
The Rovers manager, perhaps wisely, was away on business and never saw
his side step out before a predictably hostile atmosphere from the 2000
home crowd.
Yet, despite being on the defensive on a difficult surface, Rovers
took a first-half lead through Ally Fraser, and held it until Marco De
Barros and Martin Stewart netted two in two minutes shortly after the
interval.
Sides have buckled under such Huntly onslaughts before, but the script
appeared to have been rewritten when Martin Scott levelled matters and
defender John McCaffrey drilled home a third.
An air of disappointment and anticlimax began to hover over Christie
Park. But not for long.
Steve Lennox equalised, Arthur Murphy knocked Huntly ahead, and Brian
Thomson put the tie beyond doubt with a late penalty.
Huntly manager Steve Paterson gave a little moan about his side's
defending, but he knew he did not have much to complain about.
Meanwhile, Golspie Sutherland keeper Wayne Wormold was on the
receiving end of a historic drubbing as Caley went on a North Cup
rampage.
He lost 15 goals as Caley, now in their last Highland season, recorded
their all-time record win -- 15-0 -- in the first-round tie.
Skipper Alan Hercher was the Caley hero with five goals, turning down
a double hat trick chance to let debut youngster Neil Sinclair net a
penalty.
Elsewhere, a last-minute Joe Smart goal gave Fort William a shock win
over Elgin City, while Peter Hardie and John Seaton gave Clach a 2-0
derby victory at Inverness Thistle.
Scottish League newcomers Ross County completed a remarkable week with
a 2-1 league win at Keith.
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