North Region junior football kicks off with Rothie Rovers' debut league match spoiled by hosts Forres Thistle
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AFTER two null and void seasons, north junior football kicked off what is hoped to be a full campaign of action on Saturday.
History was made in Division 2 as Rothie Rovers played their first-ever league match at Forres Thistle.
The Rothienorman side joined the North Region a year ago and played some League Cup ties.
At a windy Logie Park, Jake Stewart threatened first for Rothie but saw his effort saved, while Neil Moir fired over at the other end.
Forres captain Mattie Davidson couldn't quite turn in a Craig Robertson free kick, then Rovers broke through Sean bremner who beat keeper Daniel McLeod to the ball at the edge of the box but his cross just evaded Stewart.
McLeod saved a curling Keith Walker shot, before a mistake in the Rothie defence was seized upon by Davidson but his drive from 25 yards flew just past.
Former Islavale man Craig Smith went close for Rovers at the start of the second half.
But when a goal did arrive on 55 minutes, it was Jags who scored with Matty Milne bulleting a header home at the back post from Moir's corner.
A Rovers corner had no takers in the goalmouth, while Ross Paterson forced a good save out of Christopher Garden in the away goal.
Glen Graffin fired the final chance inches wide for Rothie as Jags held on for a 1-0 win.
Deveronside found a strong Dyce Juniors side too strong in the Superleague, with former Inverurie Locos, Formartine United and Cove Rangers man Jordan Leyden opening the scoring in a 2-0 Dyce win at Macduff.
Goals by Ben Cullen and Kelvin Main weren't quite enough for Dufftown to prevent a 3-2 defeat at Sunnybank in Division 1.
Also in Division 2, New Elgin crashed 6-1 at home to Cruden Bay while Euan Simpson and Brodie Christie netted in Whitehills' 7-2 loss to Newmachar.
Islavale were defeated 1-0 at home to Glentanar.
Burghead Thistle, who were idle on the first weekend of league action, kick off their campaign in the League Cup at Islavale tomorrow night (Wednesday).
Also in the cup, Dufftown host Whitehills and Forres visit New Elgin in the same group, both games tonight (7.30pm).
Also on Tuesday, Deveronside head for Nairn St Ninian in the Superleague and Rothe Rovers' first home league game is against Newmachar United.
