Aberlour Villa remain unbeaten after ending Fochabers nine-game Moray welfare league winning run while Cullen hit RAF Lossiemouth for nine
After nine straight wins, a first defeat - and off the top of the league.
Fochabers’ perfect start to the Moray welfare football league season ended with a 3-1 defeat at closest rivals Aberlour Villa, who took over at the summit.
Villa remain undefeated in all competitions and lead the way in the league going into the split.
Cullen confirmed their place in the top half with an incredible 9-1 victory over RAF Lossiemouth, who also finished in the leading six.
The league splits after ten matches into two tiers to determine the main champions and bottom half winners.
Tuesday’s midweek clash saw a Fochabers side with nine wins out of nine in the league paying a visit to Aberlour, who were just two points behind with eight wins and a draw.
A close game anticipated and that was how it turned out, with Villa keeper Shaun Robertson making a couple of saves in the opening quarter as Fochabers looked to maintain their perfect start.
James McLaren and Barry Grant went close for Villa while keeper Shaun Robertson made an important save in a goalless first 45 minutes.
Aberlour were on top with Marc Winchester firing just wide and Barry Grant bringing a good save out of the Fochabers keeper.
But the visitors looked on course to make it ten wins out of ten when Jordan Clark fired home from the edge of the box.
Aberlour needed to respond and they did so quickly with Barry Grant latching on to a loose ball to level within three minutes.
Bradley Ogg was inches away with a home effort, but the same player headed in a Callum Cruickshank free kick to edge Villa in front on 83 minutes.
Victory was secured for the Speysiders right at the death when a neat build-up move sent Korey Pring through to round the keeper and seal the three points and top spot.
Cullen have been in equally good form and they ruthlessly disposed of RAF Lossie at Logie Park.
It took them 22 minutes to break the deadlock when Logan Macaulay Mill nodded high into the net from a corner.
Cullen goalkeeper Charlie McKay pulled off a couple of saves before Greg Hay put Cullen 2-0 ahead with his seventh of the season.
In the second half, the Banffshire men were in ruthless form. Jae Marandola added number three and Mill’s 11th of the campaign put Cullen on course for victory.
Grant Bryceland found the top corner from 25 yards out before Ethan Matthew pulled one back for Lossie.
Marandola’s second, a Jack Newlands goal and a quickfire Kieran Ferguson double completed Cullen’s tally at nine.
Buckie Rovers made it five consecutive wins with a 2-0 success over Hopeman.
Jordan Bisset and Jordi Mackie got the Rovers’ goals, although key player Ross Fiske was taken off with a broken wrist.
Ugie and Craigellachie fought out a 1-1 draw with Mark Hector netting for the Keith homesters and Colin Coutts replying for Craig.
