Buckie Rovers and Aberlour Villa forge clear in Abbeyside Moray Welfare league after convincing victories
It was a night of high-scoring action.
Two front runners have emerged after the opening two matches of the Abbeyside Moray Welfare League season, and its the usual suspects.
Champions Buckie Rovers and last season’s runners-up Aberlour Villa have made powerful starts with two convincing victories.
On Tuesday night, Buckie hosted league new boys Lossie United Amateurs who had kicked off with a Scottish Cup success and a winning league opener.
A young United side found Rovers’ power too much to handle with the home side recording an 8-1 victory.
New signing Aaron O’Hara picked up from the goals he scored with Craigellachie last season, netting a hat-trick while Ross Fiske, Jordi Mackie, Billy Duncan and Jordan Bisset (2) also countered for Rovers.
Lossie’s consolation was an own goal, with defender Kris Murray turning into his own net after a mix-up with Buckie’s stand-in keeper.
Aberlour made it 21 goals in three league and cup outings so far by posting their second consecutive 6-0 success, this time away to Portsoy.
Craig Watt, Gary Morrison and Ruari Watt all added to the goals they scored in the opening league victory at Cullen to give Villa a 3-0 interval lead.
Korey Pring and Marcus Murray, who also scored at Cullen, were on the scoresheet after the break along with Barry Grant who plundered a hat-trick in Villa’s 9-1 Scottish Cup win against Boddam at the very start of the new campaign.
RAF Lossiemouth were in action for the first time this term and recorded a 5-2 win at home to Lhanbryde United.
The airmen made a powerful start, striking a third minute opener when Anthony Stewart played the ball through to Danny Finley who calmly slotted home
Within two minutes a mazy run from Ben Carby saw him square the ball across the box to Ethan Matthew, whose first shot was blocked but he stroked home the rebound for 2-0.
Lhanbryde came more into the contest but were stung again on 27 minutes when Sean Spiers ran through the centre and played the ball to Finley, who rolled his marker and scored his second of the game.
United threw themselves a lifeline just before the break when Simon Lobban netted a free kick to pull one back.
And the game was back in the melting pot four minutes after half time as Shaun Ingram headed home from a corner, with United unlucky not to force an equaliser soon after.
Lhanbryde keeper Devon Hay pulled off some fine saves to keep the home side at bay.
Lossie regained their composure and Spiers crossed for Matthew to nod home his second of the game.
Four minutes from time, Carby punished a defensive mistake to go through and complete a 5-2 victory for the service side.
Hopeman were 4-0 winners at Portsoy in their league opener on Friday but lost by the same scoreline in their first home outing.
Craigellachie bounced back from a 3-2 defeat at Lossie United to post their first victory.
The Speysiders stunned Hopeman with a fourth minute opener when Mark Thomson’s free kick from deep picked out Lewis Bower to head home unchallenged.
Home keeper Stephen Woodhouse saved well from Leo Ford, while the home side begam to threaten with youngster Logan Urquhart forcing an Archie Scott save, Scott McIntyre heading over and captain Matt Herley’s fierce strike being blocked.
Urquhart fired wide for Hopeman in the second half and Craig went 2-0 up on the hour from a quick throw leading to Harry Kendrick lashing home from close range.
Hopeman veteran Iain Lunan was denied by a good Scott save and the visitors pounced again on 72 minutes when sub Brandon Tinley spun just inside the box and shot home.
Scott parried a McIntyre free kick over as Hopeman tried to get a foothold in the game, but the final goal came late on for the visitors as Ryan Donald crossed for Kian McConnachie to head in at the back post.
