Huntly scored twice in the second half to secure a 2-0 victory against Clachnacuddin in a scrappy encounter at Grant Street Park.
The victory is of little significance to Huntly, who cannot rise above their current 15th placing, while Clach could still pip Deveronvale to 13th place with a victory against rivals Nairn County on Saturday.
The game had an end of season feel to it though, with both teams already casting an eye towards next season having underachieved this term.
Clach began brightly and were inches from taking the lead on six minutes when Martin Callum’s left-footed free kick crashed off the upright, before defender David McGurk tried to squeeze the ball home from close range only to be thwarted by goalkeeper Andrew Pennycook.
Huntly created half-chances, with both Benjamin Cullen and Darren Wood heading efforts wide, however the home side again came close when Scott Maclean’s side-footed effort was brilliantly palmed over the bar by Pennycook on nine minutes.
The game flowed from end to end, but the crucial touch eluded both sides. Huntly’s best early opportunity fell to the feet of Glenn Murison, who shot over after being picked out by Connor Brian’s cross.
The hosts continued to create the better opportunities, with Maclean, Callum and Liam Shewan shooting off target after being put through on goal. The game fell into a lull, but having posed the greater threat throughout the first half, it was the Lilywhites who ended the opening 45 minutes on top.
Shewan’s cross from the left picked out the diminutive Blair Lawrie, but he could only nod over from close range, before Ryan Macdonald dragged a shot wide on the verge of half time.
Maclean continued to be a lively presence up front for the Inverness outfit, and his near post flick rolled narrowly wide of target in the early stages of the second-half.
Huntly’s threat had been scant, but they should have taken the lead on 65 minutes when Devin Colbert drove across the byline before pulling the ball back to Ian Cruickshank, but from close range he scrambled an effort just wide with Clach goalkeeper John Campbell beaten.
The Black and Golds took confidence from their near miss however, and took the lead on 67 minutes.
From the left, Scoular sent the ball into the danger zone and with Cruickshank lurking, helpless Clach defender McGurk stuck out his leg to deflect the ball in despite the best efforts of goalkeeper Campbell.
The goal gave the visitors a grip on the game, and they doubled their lead with nine minutes left. Substitute Philip Duncan lifted a delightful chip over the stranded Campbell from 25 yards to send the points back to Aberdeenshire.
