Buckie Rovers progress in Tom Hunter Highland Welfare Cup with Ross Fiske’s spectacular free kick the highlight while Lhanbryde United and Lossiemouth United also march on
Three Moray clubs have marched on to the next round of the Tom Hunter Highland Welfare Cup.
Buckie Rovers proved too strong for Fraserburgh visitors Elizabethan Link-up in Friday’s first round matches.
The visiting keeper made some good saves early on but was finally beaten by a Kris Murray header from Evan Smith’s corner.
A similar combination led to Buckie’s second on 42 minutes, Ross Fiske playing in a corner for Noel Scott to continue his good scoring run with a bullet header.
Fiske got the third goal himself just before the break with a superb free kick into the top corner from almost 25 yards out.
Rovers continued to dominate in the second half but had to wait until the closing six minutes for two more goals, both from substitutes.
Impressive 16-year-old Lucas McPherson got past a defender to shoot inside the near post, then Alex McCaig nodded in skipper Declan Clark’s free kick to complete a 5-0 Rovers win.
Lhanbryde United also struck five times in their victory over Boddam United, with doubles from Simon Lobban and Stephen Dey and a Craig Sim strike earning a 5-3 success over the Peterhead visitors.
Two Lossiemouth sides were in action in the same tourney on Saturday, with Lossie United Amateurs winning 2-1 against Nairn outfit Riverside Thistle thanks to goals from Kyle Hay and Matt Cuffley.
RAF Lossie went down 5-1 at Longside with Jack Woods netting for the airmen.
One league match was played at Hopeman where title chasers Aberlour Villa continued their unbeaten start with a 4-0 victory.
It was the second time in a week that the sides had met on the Moray coast, Villa winning a cup clash 3-1 just days earlier.
Ex-Highland League striker Kris Duncan repeated his double strike for Villa to close the gap on leaders Fochabers.
Home keeper Darren Wood did well to push away a Gary Morrison half-volley, but the home side hit back with Jordan Gray and Rafael Polonio Gonzalez going close while Ryan Fiske headed on to the post before keeper Steven Reid cleared.
Duncan opened Aberlour’s account midway through the first half, capitalising on a loose clearance to score.
Barry Grant hit the post as Villa chased a second, but they had to wait until the second half for more goals.
it was Grant who made it 2-0 on the hour from Reid’s long clearance, and when Duncan rounded the keeper to add a third five minutes later, the points were safe.
Wood denied Duncan a hat-trick with a good stop and at the other end, Hopeman’s Cammy Grant sent a 25 yard free kick crashing off the bar.
Aberlour completed the scoring through sub Reece Davies, who notched his second of the season after a nice turn inside the box.
Hopeman missed a penalty late on, Scott McIntyre ballooning over the bar after Struan Kelly was fouled in the box.