Academy secure place in Challenge Cup

Academy extended their undefeated home run to 12 games today, but more importantly the draw was enough to secure a spot in next season's SFA Challenge Cup, as Deveronvale beat Keith 3-2 at Kynoch Park.

Rothes opened the scoring in the 27^th minute when a Seam McKinstry effort looped over the head of James More and went in at the back post. Academy past up too many chances to count today but the equaliser finally came when in the 74^th minute from Davie Allan.

The last 15 minutes of the game had everyone biting their finger-nails with one eye on Academy trying to get the winner, and the other eye on mobile phones waiting on word from Kynoch Park.

Grant Steven and Michael Gray were unavailable for this one, but Davie Kirkwood otherwise had a full squad at his disposal. Martin Gunn made his final appearance for the Scorries after 18 years with the Club. The game was Martin's 400^th competitive start for the Scorries, and with a further 38 appearances off the sub's bench he finished his Academy career with an amazing total of 438 competitive appearances.

Academy started brightly and in the first few minutes good link-up play between Ross Allan and Gary Weir got Macadie in on target but Rothes keeper Ricky Horne got a hand to the ball and cleared it for a corner.

Macadie then had another shot saved by Horne before Sam Mackay blazed an attempt over the cross-bar.

In the 7^th minute Michael Fletcher had a long-range pop but James More made a comfortable save.

Academy piled on the pressure and Davie Allan surged up the flank before crossing low into the Rothes box but the Rothes defence managed to clear the danger. In the next attack Mackay flashed the ball across the face of goal but there were no takers to knock it home.