There has not been a more dramatic finale to the Highland League in recent years and I can guarantee it will rank up there in the annuls as one of the closest title races in history.

The 100th HFL Champions are Keith FC and they deserve all the plaudits they have received but personally I dont think the Maroons will need any further words from me or others to increase the enjoyment of Saturday. Therefore my main aim is to congratulate Inverurie Loco Works on achieving so much even if they have nothing to show for it all.

To have amassed the number of points they have done this season and in the two previous seasons demonstrates how well they have performed, consistently, over the course of 36 months. This season they started like a learner driver nervously jittering forward as though they had kangaroo petrol in their tank yet they rallied following the right royal thumping from Rothes to get to within a hairs breadth of the title.

They won the games many thought they wouldnt during the run in but fell 12 goals short in the end. Heartbreaking stuff for all at the club but especially the players. Nevertheless they start again next year with 0 points on the board just like the rest of us and probably a stronger squad than they had this time round.

Fort William 2 Huntly 3
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It seems this was the most entertaining game of the afternoon and the course of the match was followed avidly on the WAP videprinter by the group of reporters in the press box at Kynoch Park because obviously the Fort are still aiming to catch Lossiemouth and with them taking the lead twice the banter was flowing.

Jonathan Hewitt didnt have a great game against us at Claggan Park but the way he addressed the ball suggested that on his day he would cause most teams damage. It is unfortunate they conceded the late goal which ensured a 0-0-14 season at home but with two away games to go the Fort now know they need a 100% finish if they are to overtake the Coasters.

Huntly finished the season with a win and are already preparing to make a number of changes to their playing squad. I expect there to be a fair bit of movement on that front in the next week or two so watch this space! NB: Since writing this Neil Reid has requested a transfer and I believe we could have some Christie Park signing news next week

Inverurie Loco Works 1 Cove Rangers 1
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In the week building up to the game the Locos fans went for the we are going to do it approach and in the aftermath the Keith fans have tried to say that this was a contributing factor to the fact that the players didnt win.

I dont think it would have made a jot of difference how the fans approached the game this was all about the players coping with the nerves. From the moment that last weeks matches finished the nerves would have began to creep in.

I am sure the players would have been hoping that Fort could do something on Wednesday night and if they had then I reckon the Locos would have won this game. However having had two disappointments in the space of four days then the pressure was on.

Every ten minutes the players minds would have crept towards Saturday and while an early goal can inspire you to run riot more often than not this sort of tension in part time players saps the energy out of the legs and I am not surprised to see Kevin Will talking about the players looking heavy legged.

I have a great deal of sympathy with the Locos players it really must have been heartbreaking for them but they deserve a great deal of credit for what they have done this season and I believe they will be a stronger squad next year with the return of Singer and Mess as well as the addition of two or three new faces.

Keith 3 Nairn County 0
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Keith strolled to victory in this game and although there was some nervousness when Nairn got the ball in the Maroons half while the score was 2-0 the visitors never even threatened Andy Shearers goal in what was the most one sided game I have seen this season.

Having endured a nervous end to the Forres game and the Broch game the tension at this match came only from events elsewhere. There was a fatalistic feeling in the air that, just like St Johnstone last week, it would be a case of near but yet so far and when the news came through that Locos had scored it seemed that no one gave Cove much chance of coming back, but they did.

The post game three minutes of action at the Locos supplied some incredible scenes for the neutrals at Kynoch Park, with everyone huddling around a few mobile phones before an explosion of joy occurred simultaneously on the pitch and in the stand. On the day Keith went about their job immaculately and if anything could well have scored more.

Wick Academy 1 Fraserburgh 1
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This point was important for Wick as it has helped them edge above Forres and they will now go into the last game of the season aiming for three points which will see them finish level with Rothes leaving goal difference to decide yet another position.

Fraserburgh were not in a position to improve their league standing but the fact that they fought back well after the break shows that despite the talk of meaningless games you cannot take away players desire to win.

The result will just be noted on the historical ledger in the same way as a run in cricket but for the players every game matters and playing should always be a pleasure. This game of two halfs shows that.

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