Huntly forward Michael Ewen netted in both halves to shock his former club as Huntly pulled off an impressive 2-1 win away to title contenders Formartine United.
Formartine rang the changes from the side which defeated Brora Rangers 5-0 with player-manager Paul Lawson putting himself into the starting side along with Jamie Michie, Liam Burnett and Kieran Lawrence.
Huntly went with the same starting team that came from behind to see of Wick at the weekend while forward Martin Charlesworth was added to the subs bench.
The visitors came close after 10 minutes when two ex-Formartine players combined. A long throw from David Donald was not dealt with it dropped to Paul Napier who fired over.
Huntly took the lead after 17 minutes when Ryan Stewart played the ball in from the left flank and Michael Ewen got in front of the his marker to lift a shot beyond Ewen MacDonald for his fifth of the season.
Formartine kept up the pressure but they were being kept out by a stubborn Huntly defence as Ross Still put his body on the line to block a Liam Burnett shot.
Huntly’s Blair Johnston saw a shot deflected wide minutes later while Scott Barbour fired wide following a shot on the turn at the other end. Barbour was denied again in the 37th minute after a timely block from Glenn Murison broke up an attack.
With four minutes of the half remaining, Formartine drew level. A long ball from Jamie Michie picked out Liam Burnett in behind the Huntly back line and he managed to squeeze a shot past Craig Reid and in off the foot of the post.
Burnett came close again early on in the second half but he wasted a shot shooting straight at Reid. United were looking for a penalty but Scott Barbour appeared to have went to ground very easily.
In the 67th minute, Ryan Stewart played a ball through the home defence for Michael Ewen who ran on and got wide of MacDonald to net with a low drive.
United still kept searching with Lawrence wide again this time on the volley while Scott Barbour turned Glenn Murison in the 81st minute only for the in-form Craig Reid to get down and hold the shot. It wasn’t to be Formartine’s night
