Moray welfare: Thunderton end RAF Lossiemouth's 100 per cent record while Hopeman and FC Fochabers keep on winning trail
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The Moray welfare title race was split wide open by a shock result on Friday night.
Leaders RAF Lossiemouth, with ten straight wins under their belt, slipped to a surprise defeat at Thunderton.
Hopeman twice came from behind to beat Aberlour Villa and keep the pressure on the leaders, who they play tomorrow night.
Lossie looked on course for 11 wins out of 11 when they twice led Thunderton and held an advantage going into the last ten minutes of their match in Elgin.
It was the airmen who scored first after ten minutes when Thunderton's Lorne McPherson inadvertently turned the ball into his own net from a corner.
The veteran, normally a regular scorer at the right end of the park over the years, could be forgiven for his lapse as a new baby in the family had given him some sleepless nights.
The Elgin side were quick to respond, as Raymond Anderson beat the offside trap and coolly slotted home the equaliser for his fourth goal of the season.
Back came RAF Lossie to regain the lead on the half hour, Ethan Frost finishing a well-worked move at the back post.
A pivotal moment in the game arrived when Lossie were awarded a penalty, but Thunderton's stand-in keeper Fraser Hayter pulled off a fine save to keep the score at 2-1.
The home side dominated the second half and twice hit the woodwork, with time seemingly running out on their challenge as the game entered its final ten minutes.
However, the match's second penalty kick was awarded Thunderton's way for a foul on Paul Coull, and Jon Mallinson did the needful from the spot to make it 2-2.
Thunderton went for victory and five minutes later, McPherson picked out team-mate Kevin Fairweather who embarked on a solo run over 30 yards before sliding the ball home to put his team in front.
Desperate to hold on to their unbeaten league record, Lossie went on the offensive but were caught on the counter-attack by Mallinson, who raced clean through and finished well for his second of the night to seal victory.
Hopeman had to dig deep to turn things around at Aberlour in an entertaining contest at Villa Park.
Villa made a dream start when Mikey Paterson fired home a great strike from the edge of the box for his first goal for the club.
On 15 minutes, Connor McArthur pounced on the break to level up the scores for Hopeman.
Just two minutes later, another terrific finish from Aberlour restored their advantage, Gary Morrison beating the keeper low to his left from just inside the penalty area.
The home side then disputed a penalty award given to Hopeman soon after, with James McLaren slotting home to make it 2-2.
Early in the second half, Hopeman again caught their hosts on the break and Jamie Lees raced away to finish superbly for his 12th of the season to edge his team in front for the first time.
Aberlour tried to find a way back but their challenge took a hit when Ruari Watt was shown a straight red card for dissent.
The man advantage allowed Hopeman to go on and seal their crucial win, McLaren on target for the 22nd time this season to clinch a 4-2 success.
Champions FC Fochabers are building up a head of steam after a nervy start, clocking up a fifth consecutive victory away to fast-improving Craigellachie.
The visitors had the better of the early exchanges and created some openings, the best of which was cleared off the Craigellachie line.
Craigellachie then upped their efforts and enjoyed a spell of pressure, forcing a good save when Jordan Gray beat a couple of players and fired on goal.
The half seemed destined to finish without a breakthrough when Fochabers were awarded a free kick close to the home box and Jordan Clark arced the ball over the wall into the bottom corner of the net for his sixth goal of the campaign.
Craig chased an equaliser after the interval with James McPherson firing wide from outside the box, Barry Grant forcing another good save and Gray with the best of them all, going through on goal but failing to hit the target.
Fochabers showed their threat with Clark again showing his free kick ability, this time his effort being saved.
Mark Thomson went close with a Craigellachie free kick while Cameron Thomson saw his shot saved as the home side put on the pressure, but when a goal did come it arrived at the other end.
Fochabers' produced a counter-attack leading to Gary Burchell breaking away and firing home his team's second and clinching strike.
Cullen were 4-1 winners away to Lhanbryde United.
The visitors made a fast start with two early goals, the first on five minutes when Tommie Marandola netted at the back post.
Six minutes later a stunning goal doubled Cullen's lead as the ball dropped to Ross Coull at least 25 yards from goal and he took it on the chest before volleying a beauty into the bottom corner.
Play went from end-to-end for a spell with chances for both teams, but Lhanbryde got the next goal when Gary Low's flick from a throw sent Craig Harrold clear of the offside trap to lob the advancing keeper from outside the box.
It was 2-1 to Cullen at the break but they increased their lead again on 52 minutes. The ball bounced around the home box before it fell in front of Kieran Ferguson and he managed to raise his leg up and flick the ball over Ben Moore into the net.
Both teams created more opportunities but it was the away team who clinched the points right at the end, Ferguson converting from six yards for his second of the evening.
Tuesday's Moray welfare league fixtures (7.30pm kick offs):
Aberlour Villa v Craigellachie
Cullen v FC Fochabers
Hopeman v RAF Lossiemouth
Thunderton v Rothes A
