PICTURES: Buckie United fight back for draw against champions Hopeman in Moray welfare football's top-of-the-table clash
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MORAY welfare league champs Hopeman took on Buckie United in a top-of-the table clash on Friday.
In the final match before the league split, the two sides started the contest level on points, both eager to snatch an advantage with four games to play.
A good crowd attended at Cameron Park and Buckie forced an early goalmouth scramble from a corner kick.
Hopeman hit back and former SPFL and Highland League player Ryan Farquhar broke down the right and cut the ball back for Graeme Ingram to fire just over from outside the box.
But when Ingram was fouled in a central position on 14 minutes, team-mate Marc Connolly stepped up to float a superb free kick high past keeper Ryan Brindle into the top corner, giving Hopeman the lead.
It got even better for the title holders five minutes later when Ingram and Lee Spencer combined to play a ball through for Connolly, who took a good first touch on the right side then drilled the ball hard into the bottom corner for his second of the game.
Hopeman’s Iain Lunan made a few timely interceptions making it look effortless to snuff out any balls coming through from Buckie, while Blair Tulloch was doing well to keep Buckie danger man Paul Mellon very quiet during most of the first half.
On 26 minutes Hopeman's Gary Burr had a long range effort from 28 yards out go over the bar.
Two minutes later Buckie's Darren Thain tried a similar effort but home keepr Glen Fraser was equal to it.
Burr went even closer with a strike inches over following great play by Farquhar, and the same player nodded just past from a Connolly cross as Hopeman chased more goals.
Buckie were under the cosh but were thrown a lifeline right on half time when mellon fired over a cross from the left and William Morrison met it with a bullet header at the front post to score.
Into the second half, Ingram shot wide after a good interchange between Connor McArthur, Burr and Farquhar.
But Buckie were awarded a penalty on the hour mark, Lunan penalised for a challenge on Thain.
Up stepped Mellon to clip the spot kick in off the inside of the post for his 12th goal of the season to level things up.
Brindle saved a Farquhar header at the other end while Thain fired just past for Buckie with both teams going for victory.
Hopeman came close to regaining their advantage on 66 minutes but Ingram struck a post from just inside the by-line.
The game was competitive from here on, as it was from the outset, but saw two sides not really wanting to lose the game and almost became like a game of chess.
Tulloch had a stoppage time attepmt blocked in the Buckie goalmouth and both teams settled for a point apiece to keep them level at the top.
They will meet again, as the league splits into a top five and bottom five with each half playing four more games to decide the destiny of the league trophy.
Buckie United host Aberlour Villa on Friday with Hopeman the odd team out in the top five.
RAF Lossiemouth are just four points behind the leading two following their 6-1 win over Tomintoul.
The airmen played some good football early on and created plenty chances but had to wait until the 35th minute for an opening goal.
Cammy Newton finished well from the edge of the box from an Alex Poulter cutback.
Logan Buick then won a penalty which he scored himself to make it 2-0, before 'Toul responded with a goal of their own on the stroke of half time.
'Toul's keeper made a series of good stops in the second half but was beaten by Josh Taylor's header from a great Nathan Lant cross.
A good run and finish by Buick made it 4-1, before RAF lossie were forced to make four of their five possible changes through injury.
One of the replacements, Ryan Woods, was playing out of position but got up to net a tap-in from close range after a taylor free kick was well saved.
Taylor got his second to complete the scoring from Dean McKellar's fine turn and assist.
