Moray welfare football: Champions FC Fochabers end Hopeman's title hopes and set up title decider with RAF Lossiemouth on Friday
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The Moray welfare league title chase took another twist on Friday as long-term leaders Hopeman were eliminated from the contenders.
They were defeated 3-2 at FC Fochabers in a dramatic match, leaving Fochabers and RAF Lossiemouth to fight it out for the league trophy.
At one point Fochabers trailed RAF Lossie by 16 points at the top having dropped ten points ion their opening six matches.
Friday's success made it 14 wins out of their last 14 for the Speyside outfit in all competitions and they have two cup finals against Hopeman as well as a league decider to look forward to.
Fochabers must win at the air base on Friday as a draw would hand RAF Lossie the championship. Fochabers also need to win by two goals, as a single goal victory would force a play-off on the head-to-head record.
Having beaten Hopeman on their own park recently, Fochabers knew they had to do the same on home soil to keep their title defence alive.
They took the lead midway through the first half when lee Alexander was put through on goal to finish nicely.
Hopeman levelled before half time as Jamie Lees latched on to a pass and cracked home his 23rd goal of the season.
Into the second half, Hopeman sub Ryan Fiske made an instant impact by shooting his side into the lead for the first time.
Alexander then equalised with a scrappy goal and Hopeman, who had Chris Grant sent off with 15 minutes to go, were up against it.
The winning goal came just two minutes from time and it was Fochabers who got it. Ewan Edwards made up for his mistake for Hopeman's second goal, scoring with a header from a corner to the joy of the home side.
RAF Lossiemouth had endured a sticky spell after a stunning start to the campaign but they returned to form with an 11-0 romp over bottom side Rothes A, raising their hopes of a first-ever welfare title.
Three players scored hat-tricks for the airmen, who were 4-0 up at half time.
Dean Stevenson scored the first of his treble on 15 minutes, closely followed by a Jake Ward effort and a Jake McCormack finish.
Dean McKellar got his name on the scoresheet just before half time.
McCormack added his second from a Reece Blackwood through ball and McKellar got his double from a 30 yard free kick. He repeated the feat from similar distance two minutes later to get his hat-trick.
Stevenson kneed home the next one, and tapped in on 80 minutes for his treble.
McCormack got his third from close in and there was still time for McKellar to net his third free kick of the match and fourth counter of the game before the end.
Craigellachie came from behind to complete a league double over hosts Portsoy.
'Soy took the lead midway through the second half,as an indirect free kick after a blunder from the keeper was smashed into the corner by captain Haydn Mottram.
Craigellachie then replied with a scrappy Steven Chalmers goal from a corner to equalise, and a keeper blunder paved the way for Colin Coutts to net what proved to be Craigellachie's winner.
Aberlour Villa won 4-1 in Elgin against Thunderton. Finlay Robertson, Reece Cooper (2) and Mikey Paterson got the Villa goals, Jon Mallinson replied for Thunderton.
