Moray welfare football: Hopeman edge out RAF Lossiemouth to stretch lead, FC Fochabers end Aberlour Villa's run and Cullen hit back for first win
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HOPEMAN are the only unbeaten team left in the Moray welfare league.
In a coastal clash with RAF Lossiemouth, the leaders won 2-1 at the airbase while nearest rivals Aberlour Villa tasted defeat for the first time at home to FC Fochabers.
A mistake by the RAF goalkeeper gifted Connor McArthur an opener for Hopeman on 20 minutes, before Dan Rawlinson hit back to level for the service side.
Chris Cooper produced another setpiece goal for Hopeman's winner as his free kick deceived the home keeper to go in for his fourth goal of the season.
At Villa Park, Fochabers threatened first with a Jordan Mackie strike off the post from close range.
It was home side Aberlour who opened the scoring on the half hour mark with a good finish from Darren Mitchell.
One down at the break, Fochabers staged a revival and levelled through Gary Burchell before grabbing an 85th minute winner when John Gerrard fired under keeper Paul Robertson in the midst of a melee.
An even stronger comeback was made by Cullen to deny Craigellachie their first win in Moray welfare football.
Both sides were chasing their first points of the campaign and it looked like debut boys Craigellachie were on course for the points when they led 2-0 at half time.
They took the lead after 20 minutes, with Scott McPherson getting on the end of a corner kick and guiding the ball into the top-left corner of the net.
Cullen's task was made more difficult on the stroke of half time when Aaron O'Hara converted a penalty for the visitors.
The home side were much improved in the second half, and got back into the game with a penalty kick of their own. Kieran Ferguson was on target to make it 2-1.
On the hour mark Cullen were level, with an excellent strike from Logan Mill from the edge of the box squeezing in off the far post.
With minutes remaining Ferguson came up with his second goal for the winner, heading in from a corner kick to complete a dramatic turnaround.
