Fochabers, Aberlour Villa and Buckie Rovers keep on winning in Moray welfare football with top two set for midweek clash
Something will have to give in the battle between the top two teams.
Fochabers and Aberlour Villa lead the way in the Moray welfare league, with the two sides meeting on Tuesday night to see who is on top at the halfway split.
Fochabers have won all nine league games after Friday’s 4-1 win over Lossie United Amateurs, and visit Villa tomorrow aiming to complete a full complement of victories against all of their league rivals.
Euan Edward and Jordan Clark (3) scored for the Speysiders with Morgan Smith replying for Lossie.
Aberlour are the only team unbeaten in all competitions so far, although they did drop two league points after a goalless draw with champions Buckie Rovers earlier in the season.
The Speysiders have won every other fixture, scoring 68 times and conceding just six goals in their 15 outings so far.
Star striker Kris Duncan made it back-to-back hat-tricks and 17 goals in just ten games in Friday’s 6-0 win over Lhanbryde United.
The first goal arrived early when Gary Morrison’s powerful effort finding the net on four minutes - his tenth of the campaign.
Ruari Watt punished confusion in the Lhanbryde defence to add a second soon after, with Villa keeper Shaun Robertson called upon to make a good save on the quarter-hour mark.
Duncan got his first on 22 minutes and when his free kick was spilled by the United keeper, James McLaren scored Villa’s fourth.
The home side made four half time substitutions, and although a great save denied Duncan a goal he didn’t have long to wait for his second from a corner.
Lhanbryde had several chances, forcing another Robertson save and prompting Villa defender Marc Winchester to clear another off the line before Duncan struck again on 82 minutes to seal a six-goal win.
Champions Buckie have work to do if they are going to retain their title, but they are hitting good form going into the split.
A 3-1 win over Craigellachie made it five wins and a draw in their last six - the draw was against an Aberlour side who have won every other fixture they’ve played.
Rovers were depleted due to injuries, work commitments and unavailibility and made a poor start with Craigellachie creating a couple of early half chances.
The home side eventually recovered and broke the deadlock on 33 minutes when Evan Smith worked a one-two with Ross Fiske before smashing the ball past Craig keeper Charlie Christie for a great goal.
Five minutes later it was 2-0 after a scramble on the edge of the box led to Jordan Bisset scoring.
Into the second half, Fiske nearly made it three when he chopped back on to his left foot and fired in a strike which Christie tipped over.
Rovers’ third arrived on 55 minutes, Jordi Mackie tapping in from Kris Murray’s header across goal.
The home side chased more goals without success and it was Craigellachie who had the final say through Harry Kendrick’s brilliant finish from a tight angle.
Cullen’s run of six straight wins was ended in a 2-2 draw at Ugie.
Graham Shand and Callum Dunbar scored for the Keith hosts while Jae Marandola replied with a double for Cullen.
