Moray welfare: James McLaren hits 40th goal of season in Hopeman romp while FC Fochabers and RAF Lossiemouth remain in race for title
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The Moray welfare league title race could go right to the wire again this season.
Hopeman lead the way after another nine-goal display at home to Lhanbryde United.
FC Fochabers made it 13 wins in their last 14 in all competitions to keep the pressure on.
And RAF Lossiemouth picked up a point at Aberlour Villa and will snatch the league crown if they win all of their remaining fixtures.
Last season it came down to a head-to-head between FC Fochabers and Hopeman, with the Speyside club snatching glory by a single goal.
This season, Hopeman are comfortably the highest-scoring side but their only two defeats have come against their title rivals.
On Friday, the coast outfit again demonstrated their firepower by scoring nine goals against Lhanbryde United for the second time this term.
A flying start by the leaders saw Jamie Lees head home an opener from James McLaren's cross after 20 seconds.
United were under heavy pressure and conceded a second on six minutes, with the roles reversed for Lees to play in McLaren with a superb pass and he controlled and lobbed home.
McLaren then scored from the spot for his 40th goal in 19 matches this season, after a handball award.
To their credit, Lhanbryde pushed up the park and won a free kick near the halfway line. Jack Macleod's kick bounced wickedly in front of home keeper Jamie Brown and bounced over him into the net.
Hopeman's response was to go in search of more goals and on 19 minutes, Gary Burr headed home from Danny Gresham's flick.
Lees converted a Ryan Fiske cross for 5-1 then completed his hat-trick with his own 22nd goal of the campaign, converting Aaron Main's cross before the break.
Three more Hopeman players got on the scoresheet in the second half.
James Macpherson headed in a Chris Cooper corner on 51 minutes and sub Mark Wood finished off a Main cross.
Another bullet header, this time by Lee Spencer from a Cooper cross completed the scoring on 74 minutes.
Fochabers were too strong for hosts Portsoy, with Jordan Clark scoring twice to take his tally for the season to 20.
Player manager Gary Burchell continued his own good scoring run and John Gerrard was also on the scoresheet to keep the champs' hopes alive.
RAF Lossiemouth had to settle for a point at Aberlour Villa, and have now won just twice in their last eight outings, one of those wins being awarded to them by an opponents' no-show.
The airmen made a great start at Villa Park, top scorer Callum Devine firing home from the edge of the box on four minutes.
The visitors should have been further ahead at the break but Villa keeper Paul Robertson made a string of good stops.
Aberlour cme more into the contest in the second half, and their pressure paid off when debut player Harry Doble won a penalty which Mikey Paterson converted on the hour.
Two more Robertson saves late on denied Lossie the victory they craved as it finished 1-1.
Lossie are back in action tonight, playing their rearranged league match at home to Thunderton.
The spoils were also shared across Speyside where neighbours Rothes A and Craigellachie battled it out.
Bottom side Rothes continued their mini revival with a second straight draw, earned by Dale McTavish's double in a 2-2 draw.
James McPherson, with his ninth of the season, and Cameron Thomson got the Craigellachie goals.
