Fochabers move to top of Moray welfare league by defeating neighbours Lhanbryde while Hopeman captain celebrates new family arrival with goal against Lossiemouth United
There’s been a change at the top in Moray’s welfare football league after Friday’s matches.
Fochabers shot to the top with their fifth win in five outings so far this term.
In their local derby at Lhanbryde, a 4-2 win was enough to take them above previous leaders Aberlour Villa, who weren’t playing.
Fochabers broke the deadlock after eight minutes when Russell Geddes’ shot hit the underside of the crossbar and dropped to Warren Orford to tuck it in from a tight angle for his fifth goal of the season.
Craig Sim went close for Lhanbryde on two occasions but the next goal came for the visitors on 23 minutes when Geddes fired home from an acute angle.
It was 2-0 at the break and a third goal arrived for Fochabers just after the break when Stuart Harrold found himself all alone at the back post to fire through the keepers legs.
That could have been game over but Lhanbryde showed their grit, and they pulled one back from a Stephen Dey penalty after Ashley Lake was fouled in the box on the hour.
The home side rang the changes with subs Marc Simpson and Chris Snedden-Murdoch coming on and combining to tee up skipper Aaron Wells for a fine finish into the top corner from the edge of the box, taking the score back to 3-2.
Fochabers found another gear and a sub of their own settled the contest as Tavis Thomson used some fancy footwork to turn past two ‘Bryde defenders and slot it low into the bottom corner to seal a 4-2 win and the visitors’ perfect record.
Buckie Rovers may have won won all three trophies last season but they’re not getting it all their own way in their second season in welfare football.
Coast rivals Cullen inflicted a third defeat in four games in all competitions on Rovers in Friday’s league derby.
A bright start from home side Cullen set the tone for the game, showing good determination from the first whistle and scoring the deciding goal of the game on the 20 minute mark,.
Iain Mair picked out Logan Macaulay Mill with a ball over the defensive line, who did well to shrug off the defender to score.
Rovers’ best chance in the first half fell to William Morrison inside the box, but was well blocked by Cullen's Joe Reid.
A well-organised defence from Cullen kept the champions at bay throughout the game.
Cullen were close to adding a second on 75 minutes, with Jae Marandola's effort smashing off the crossbar and then the post before rebound out of play, but the Logie Park side held on for a notable win.
Hopeman kept up their good start with a 2-0 success at home to newcomers Lossie Utd.
There was nearly a debut goal for Hopeman’s Cammy Grant when his free kick from almost 30 yards forced Lossie keeper Nicky Alexander to tip the ball on to the bar and over for a corner.
The home side did open the scoring on 15 minutes when Lorne Mcpherson’s inswinging corner picked out captain - and new father through the week - Matthew Herley to glance home a header.
Alexander saved well from Jordan Gray while at the other end Ewan Hills and Morgan Gray threatened the Hopeman goal with shots.
Into the second half, Alexander denied Gray again before the home side produced a goal-of-the-season contender.
Sub Struan Kelly hit an unstoppable effort from 25 yards out into the top corner to make it 2-0 to Hopeman.
Hopeman keeper Darren Wood had to make a couple of good saves, while sub Connor McArthur fired over a good chance as the home side had to settle for a two-goal win.
Keith side Ugie notched up their first win of the campaign with a 3-1 success at home to Portsoy. Ewan Milne, Cammy Thomson and Alex Clark netted for Ugie with Ronnie Vine on target for the visitors.
