First-ever Moray welfare football win for Craigellachie at Cullen to join RAF Lossiemouth in semi-finals of WJ Tewnion Memorial Trophy
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CRAIGELLACHIE were the toast of Speyside on Friday after picking up their first-ever Moray welfare football victory.
The league new boys had lost their opening five matches in all competitions but got off the mark in style with a stunning comeback success at Cullen.
Logie Park hosted their WJ Tewnion Memorial Trophy first round clash and Craigellachie looked on course for a sixth straight loss when they trailed Cullen 2-0 and 3-1.
But a rip-roaring revival earned the away side a place in the last four and a chance to avenge two heavy defeats to RAF Lossiemouth.
Cullen took an early lead, with Kris Geddes scoring with an excellent free kick from the edge of the box.
Then Taylor Smith showing good determination to win the ball, break though on goal and finish well with his left foot and double the home advantage.
Craigellachie pulled one back after 15 minutes when Jack Hendry pounced on a Cullen mistake to keep their hopes alive.
It looked to be short-lived as Smith quickly restored Cullen’s two-goal lead with his second of the game.
It was all looking comfortable for the home side, until they were reduced to ten men in the 25th minute, with Kris Murray receiving a straight red card for a last man foul.
Into the second half, Craigellachie made good use of the extra man to make their way back into the game.
Colin Coutts scored after 50 minutes to bring the game back to 3-2, though Cullen still looked comfortable until the closing 15 minutes when tiredness kicked in.
Andrew Mackinnon struck his forst for the club to bring Craig level, forcing Cullen to go all out and chase a winner.
They were caught on the counter-attack when Kian McConnachie broke away and edged the visitors in front.
A jaded Cullen then conceded a last-minute penalty which Mackinnon converted to seal a historic Craigellachie win.
This Friday in the semis they will host RAF Lossiemouth who made it four wins in their last five outings with a 4-1 success at FC Fochabers.
The airmen took an early lead when Henry Jordan netted in off the post from a tight angle.
Fochabers then struck a post before a long ball from the Lossie keeper released Logan Buick to go clear and score his fifth goal of the season and make it 2-0.
Fochabers were still firmly in the contest and missed a couple of good opportunities to reduce the deficit before the interval.
The home side then started the second half well and were awarded a penalty but spurned the chance when Warren Orford missed from the spot.
Orford made amends with Fochabers' opening goal, sparking a spell of home pressure during which the RAF goal led a charmed life as the woodwork was struck on several occasions.
The Speysiders' bad luck continued when a slack passback was punished by Dean Stevenson, who fired the airmen further ahead.
Fochabers refused to give in and went on an extra push but their challenge was finally extinguished with the goal of the game, a Danny Finlay blast into the top corner from the edge of the box to wrap up victory for RAF Lossie.
Hopeman host Aberlour Villa in the other Tewnion Trophy semi-final on August 12.
