Hopeman hit back but miss out on top spot while five-goal Raymond Anderson shoots Thunderton to victory over Portsoy
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The pressure is heating up in the race for the Moray welfare league title.
Fresh from beating leaders RAF Lossiemouth last Tuesday, Hopeman had the chance to snatch top spot when they made the trip to Craigellachie on Friday night
Having posted a thumping 7-1 win over the Speysiders when the teams last met, Hopeman were expected to notch up their eighth consecutive victory.
They started well, with top scorer James McLaren seeing an early shot saved before firing a free kick just past.
It was third time lucky for the striker when he caught the home keeper out with a strike from distance to give Hopeman the lead.
But Craigellachie soon found their feet and equalised in spectacular fashion when Aaron O'Hara struck a free kick from the right hand side of the box into the top corner on 13 minutes.
The game was turned on its head a minute later as James McPherson's through ball released Jordan Gray and he slotted the home team in front..
Five minutes later it was nearly 3-1 but Jacob Imlach's effort at the back post was saved.
Ryan Fiske missed a free header for Hopeman before Craigellachie did increase their lead in a role reversal from the preious strike, Gray setting up McPherson to find the net on 36 minutes.
Into the second half, Hopeman came close to a second when Jamie Lees' header was flicked wide.
A big shock was on the cards when Craigellachie went 4-1 ahead, this time a tap-in for Brandon Tinley after Imlach whipped the ball into his path.
Hopeman knew they had to find a way back into the contest quickly and within a minute they made it 4-2 from a Lees finish.
McLaren then added his 25th goal of the season on 58 minutes to make it 4-3, with the visitors sensing they still had a chance to win the game and go top.
Their pressure produced an equalising goal on 73 minutes, Lees nodding in his second of the game.
Both teams had chances to win it with Lees looking poised to get his hat-trick until Alex Clark made a goal-saving tackle.
Andrew Mackinnon then headed over from a home corner at the death as a thrilling contest finished all square.
Raymond Anderson was the big difference between Thunderton and Portsoy at Thornhill.
The Banffshire visitors to Elgin looked on course to repeat their victory over Thunderton earlier this season when Ross Fulton headed them into an eighth minute lead from a corner.
Thunderton plugged away but it took them 35 minutes to open their scoring account when Anderson finished off a Kev Fairweather ball from the right.
It was proving to be a good night for Anderson when he notched his second from Jon Mallinson's through ball just before half time.
Three minutes after the break, Fairweather provided another assist for Anderson to complete his hat-trick with a clinical finish off the post from outside the box.
The pair combined again for Anderson's fourth of the night on 59 minutes to give Thunderton a comfortable cushion.
Portsoy captain Haydn Mottram, who scored the winner when the teams last met, netted his second of the season from a 25-yard free kick that bounced awkwardly in front of the home keeper and went into the goal.
But that man Anderson made it 5-2 with his fifth, yet again assisted by strike partner Fairweather's through pass.
The final goal of the night saw Thunderton score a sixth but this time it was Scott Ross who got his name on the scoresheet with a well-struck long-range effort that dipped over the keeper.
Aberlour Villa moved into third spot with a 5-1 derby win at Rothes A.
Reece Cooper, James Grant (2), Stewart Mackie and Marc Winchester netted for Villa with Conaire Bowie grabbing the home goal.
