Moray welfare football: FC Fochabers hit ten against Rothes A while Lhanbryde United edge out Portsoy
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Moray welfare champions FC Fochabers continued their fine run of form on Friday night.
The Speyside outfit have not yet given up hope on defending their title after a thumping 10-3 win at Rothes A.
Fochabers trail leaders Hopeman by six points and play the coast side tonight.
Friday's one-sided victory made it six victories in a row and 11 wins from their last 12 in all competitions for the champs, who have also reached both cup finals against Hopeman.
Player manager Gary Burchell scored a hat-trick while Liam Watt, Jordan Clark, Warren Orford, Evan Smith, Lee Alexander, and Andrew Walker (2) were also on target for the Rockets.
Adam Irvine, Tommy Barclay and Colin Davies got the Rothes goals.
Duncan Paterson made the difference for Lhanbryde United on his debut against Portsoy.
United hit the bar early on through Ryan Mitchell and Tommy Henderson put the rebound wide.
On ten minutes the home side were awarded a penalty for handball and Paterson slotted it away in his first game.
A second spot kick was awarded midway through the first half, this time for Portsoy when Gary Low put in a reckless challenge in the box. Steven Jamieson netted to level the scores.
Mitchell had another chance for Lhanbryde when he was put through on goal but his low effort was well saved by the Portsoy keeper.
United regained their lead just before half time with a goal that owed much to good fortune.
A Henderson corner bounced off Kenzie Lawton's knee then hit Paterson and deflected through the keeper's legs, giving the United new boy his second goal.
Portsoy chased an equaliser after the break, producing several efforts which either missed the target or were cleared by the home defence.
They thought they had levelled late in the match when Aidan O'Neil ran through from halfway into the Lhanbryde box and fired home, only to be penalised for a foul.
RAF Lossiemouth moved to within a point of leaders Hopeman without kicking a ball, as they were awarded the three points from their match against Cullen, who couldn't raise a team.
