Ugie score Moray welfare football season’s quickest goal after 10 seconds while ten-man Cullen clock up fifth straight win
The battle for a place in the top half split gathered pace last night.
Tuesday’s Moray welfare football action saw RAF Lossiemouth end a losing run in style while Cullen continued their impressive winning sequence.
With leading trio Fochabers, Aberlour Villa and Buckie Rovers not playing, there was an opportunity for the chasing pack to make up some ground.
The quickest goal of the season was also witnessed at Lhanbryde where Keith outfit Ugie were fast off the mark.
With around ten seconds on the clock, a shot from distance by Michael Maver slipped through home keeper Devon Hay’s hands and crossed the line for a rapid opening goal.
Lhanbryde tried to get back on level terms but efforts by Craig Harrold, Simon Lobban and Stephen Dey failed to hit the mark.
Ugie came close to a second with a strike off the bar, but did get their second before half time when a free kick broke to Levi Taylor and he steered home a good finish.
United tried to reduce the deficit after the break but Harrold and Lobban had shots saved by the Ugie keeper.
An away win was secured with ten minutes to go as Ugie beat the Lhanbryde press to send Reece Johnston through on goal and he slotted home to secure a 3-0 victory.
The 11-club league splits into a top six and bottom five after ten matches, with Ugie, RAF Lossie and Cullen all tied on ten points in positions five to seven at present.
RAF Lossie had lost five in a row in all competitions but bounced back to winning ways with a 5-0 success over bottom club Portsoy
A double by David Gofton and one apiece for Ethan Shelby, Rhys Rooney and Charly Moss did the business for the airmen.
Their neighbours Lossie United Amateurs made the trip to Cullen, who have been on good form of late and carried on their winning ways in a close match.
United scored first when Cairn Lasley beat the offside trap and finished well.
Cullen pushed hard but a mixture of good defending and poor finishing kept the away side's lead intact.
Elliot Findlay struck the bar with a header, before Lossie were reduced to ten men before the break, with Matt Cuffley given his marching orders.
In the second half, Calum MacLeod headed Cullen level, only for the ten men of Lossie to regain their lead through Lasley’s second from the penalty spot.
Cullen continued to press, forcing some good saves from the goalkeeper, including a point-blank clearance off the line. They finally got back on level terms with 15 minutes to go through Jae Marandola.
In a dramatic finish, Cullen were aearded a penalty of their own with five minutes to go and Findlay converted, only for a retake to be given for encroachment and Findlay’s second attempt was saved.
Lossie’s joy was shortlived as Logan Macaulay Mill fired home at the back post from Findlay's cross for his ninth goal of the season.
It was ten versus ten in the closing stages with Cullen sub Josh Imlach also sent packing but they held on for a 3-2 success.
