VIDEO and PICTURES: FC Fochabers edge out Aberlour Villa in Moray welfare football cup cracker as James Higgins' last-gasp cracker wins the day

By Craig Christie

Published: 16:58, 24 May 2023

| Updated: 17:00, 24 May 2023

Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.

Click here to sign up to our free newsletters!

FC Fochabers are through to the quarter-finals of the Mike Simpson Memorial Trophy after a thrilling clash against Aberlour Villa.

Gallery1

Ruari Watt jogs back after netting for Aberlour to make it 1-1. Picture: Beth Taylor.

Aberlour's Stewart Mackie on the ball. Picture: Beth Taylor.

Aberlour's Steven Chalmers pushing through against Fochabers' Aaron McLean. Picture: Beth Taylor.

Ricky Henderson's header finds the net for Aberlour's second equaliser. Picture: Beth Taylor.

Ricky Henderson's goal made it 2-2. Picture: Beth Taylor.

John Leggat's penalty heads for the back of the Aberlour net. Picture: Beth Taylor.

Andrew Walker is the meat in an Aberlour sandwich between Steven Chalmers and Luke Gordon. Picture: Beth Taylor.

Ricky Henderson slides in to challenge Fochabers' Andrew Walker. .Picture: Beth Taylor.

Aberlour's Michael Simpson scoring the equaliser to make it 3-3. Picture: Beth Taylor.

James Higgins' volley wins the tie for Fochabers. .Picture: Beth Taylor.

Shirt off for James Higgins as he celebrates his spectacular Fochabers winner. Picture: Beth Taylor.

Fochabers' John Leggat scoring the first goal of the evening. Picture: Beth Taylor.

Fochabers celebrating John Leggat's opener. Picture: Beth Taylor.

Fochabers' Ewan Edwards benefits from the header against Aberlour's Ruari Watt. Picture: Beth Taylor.

Fochabers' Jordan Clark blocking Aberlour's Shaun Robertson from the ball. Picture: Beth Taylor.

James Higgins' stunning last-minute volley earned a 4-3 Fochabers success in Tuesday's preliminary round tie.

The first goal was scored by Fochabers' John Leggat with a back post finish, before Ruari Watt levelled for Villa with a neat finish from a through ball.

Leggat volleyed the home side back in front only for Ricky Henderson to nod into the top corner and make it 2-2.

Fochabers were awarded a penalty and Leggat put his team ahead for the third time, completing his hat-trick from the spot.

Villa refused to give in and with 87 minutes on the clock, Michael Simpson's strike flew into the net to level things up again.

The tie looked to be heading for a penalty shoot-out when Higgins smashed a spectacular volley high into the Aberlour net to steal victory for Fochabers.

An away tie at Portsoy in the quarter-finals awaits Fochabers on June 16.

More Moray welfare football:

Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.

All Sport Keep me on trend Craig Christie