RAF Lossiemouth defeat champions FC Fochabers to move top of Moray welfare league while Hopeman hit back from three goals down to draw with Aberlour Villa
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RAF Lossiemouth beat champions FC Fochabers to make it five wins out of five and go top of the Moray welfare league on Friday.
The airmen won 2-1 at Fochabers to move above Hopeman, who came back from 3-0 down against Aberlour Villa to draw 3-3.
Lossie took a first half lead when Dean McKellar cut in from the wing and scored with an effort in off the far post
RAF took lead first half cutting in from side and scoring in off the far post.
A first of the season for Ethan Frost, breaking through the middle to finish with a low shot doubled the RAF side's lead.
Jordan Clarke fired one in for Fochabers to make a contest of it, with Lossie spurning some chances to seal victory in the closing stages as they ended up 2-1 winners.
Hopeman were without star man James McLaren - a hat-trick scorer in each of their last three games - for the visit of Aberlour.
Villa keeper Paul Robertson did well to deny Stewart McLaren on a one-on-one chance in the early minutes. McLaren then released Jamie Lees whose effort didn't have enough pace to beat the retreating Liam Munro on the line.
On 17 minutes, Aberlour opened the scoring with a good strike from the edge of the 18-yard box by Stuart Simpson.
The visitors now had their tails up with Ross Low forcing a save out of keeper Stephen Woodhouse, but from the resulting corner Gary Morrison forced home his third goal of the season to make it 2-0.
Lees headed just wide at the other end, and it was 3-0 just before the half hour mark when Reece Cooper scored amidst a goalmouth scramble.
McLaren nodded just wide for Hopeman while Munro Newlands showed some good skill getting forward down the right wing and beat a Villa defender and his strike at goal was saved by Paul Robertson.
Hopeman were thrown a lifeline before the break as Ryan Fiske's shot struck the hand of Munro and a penalty was given, with Stewart McLaren taking over the spot responsibilities from absent brother James and scoring.
Manager Mike Munro, along with assistant Graeme Ingram took the team into the pavilion for some strong words at half-time, as Hopeman were under the cosh against a better team.
In the second half Woodhouse saved from Cooper and Low while Darren Mitchell was inches wide as the visitors looked to restore their three-goal cushion.
Gary Burr headed just over for Hopeman, Robertson denied McLaren and Fiske saw his effort deflected past as the home pressure intensified.
With 17 minutes to go, Hopeman got a second goal direct from Chris Cooper's inswinging corner.
Six minutes later the scores were level as an Iain Lunan effort was scrambled off the line and sub James Turnbull reacted quickest to score from a yard.
Both teams chased a winner with Aberlour keeper Robertson denying Fiske, while Morrison had an effort blocked a Morrison drive and Woodhouse saved the weakened effort.
Right at the end, Woodhouse pulled off a crucial save to thwart Villa's Kenzie Shepherd who directed a 22-yard piledriver on target.
Craigellachie got off the mark for the season in some style as Jacob Imlach's hat-trick set up a 6-2 win away at Lhanbryde United.
After an even first half hour it was Lhanbryde who scored first, Jordi Mackie racing on to Tommy Henderson's through pass to round the keeper and slide the ball home.
Craigellachie produced an impressive reaction, equalising straight from kick off through Imlach then going on to add three more goals before half time with Imlach again, Michael Mortimer and Colin Coutts all on the score sheet.
Both teams had chances in the second half but a brilliant curled effort by Imlach found the top corner from the edge of the box to complete his treble and put the Speysiders 5-1 up.
Lhanbryde got one back when Mackie was wiped out by the Craigellachie keeper for a penalty which he converted himself to complete his fourth scoring double of the season.
However Craigellachie had the last say as a mix up in the 'Bryde box saw Cameron Thomson slot it into the bottom corner to seal a fine win.
Thunderton made it back-to-back victories to pick up their first league win, coming from behind to see off Rothes A.
A slick start saw Rothes go 2-0 up inside four minutes. Reece Davies converted a penalty and within a minute a mix-up in the home defence saw Bruno Martins net at the far post for his third goal of the campaign.
The thrilled start continued with the Elgin hosts pulling back a goal two minutes later, Chris Greene firing home to finish off a fast counter-attack.
Then a mazy run from Thunderton left back Dale Andrew was halted by a challenge in the box for the game's second spot kick, which Raymond Anderson put away to level it up at 2-2.
The game had completely turned around on the stroke of half time with Greene netting his second of the night with a deflected drive to edge Thunderton into the lead for the first time.
Ten minutes after half time, a good cross by Mark Marshall saw Kelly Sim climb highest at the back post and nod the home side further in front.
Within five minutes, Scott Ross played in a precise cross and Ethan McIntosh gambled at the back post, taking the ball down well before firing in Thunderton's fifth.
Four minutes later Greene completed his hat-trick with a header at the back post from a good Andrew cross.
Portsoy hit form in the Banffshire coast derby with Cullen, recording a fine 4-1 victory.
A superb first half performance set up 'Soy's second win of the season after three defeats.
Jack Mitchell produced a delightful run down the line before squaring to Alfie Wood for a tap-in to edge Portsoy in front.
Mitchell then scored the second goal himself and Vinnie Ingleby added his name to the scoresheet to put the home side 3-0 up at the break.
Cullen started the second half well and were rewarded with a penalty award which captain Iain Mair converted for his third goal in two games.
However, Portsoy weren't finished there and capped a good night when Ingleby scored his second of the game and fifth of the season to seal a 4-1 success.
