Moray Social escape welfare league relegation
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MORAY Social secured Premier League survival on a goal crazy afternoon in the McDonald and Munro welfare league.
The Elgin side faced dropping down to Division 1 on Sunday if nearest rivals Lhanbryde United won their match against Brander.
But the Lossie men did Social a huge favour by thumping United, who now look almost certain to be relegated.
Social did their own bit to preserve their own safety with a 10-2 drubbing of bottom club Elgin Albion, who have now become Lhanbryde’s only hope of staying up.
Portsoy are the other club in the relegation mix, but if they win at home to Albion this weekend they will relegate Lhanbryde.
Moray Social’s destiny was out of their own hands when they took on Elgin Albion, a team they had already defeated three times this season. Albion’s struggle to field a team in recent weeks had seen them concede double figures in three of their last four matches, and Social repeated the feat thanks to a deadly demonstration of finishing from striker Chris Jackson.
With the match switched to Burghead because Albion’s Duffus pitch was unplayable, Jackson took just three minutes to drill Moray in front. Calum Smith levelled ten minutes later, but two quick goals by Mark Lawrence and Andy Walker soon had Social in command. Jackson completed his hat-trick before half time with Walker adding another to give his team a 6-1 interval advantage.
Albion’s keeper fumbled one into his own net to add to the bottom side’s woes, before Peter Rettie netted one at the right end for Albion. The impressive Jackson then scored two more to take his personal tally to 5, and a late Stephen Kerr effort wrapped up a 10-2 win for the visitors.
A near identical scoreline at Lossiemouth all but sealed Lhanbryde’s fate. Understrength due to top scorer Graeme Ingram’s wedding the day before, the visitors made a good start when Shaun Ingram netted direct from a corner – but it was all downhill from there.
Stephen Mitchell soon levelled with a shot under the keeper, and a big turning point came on 20 minutes when Lhanbryde defender Jack Brown was red carded for handling a Brander shot on the goal-line, and Shane Duthie scored the resultant penalty. Craig Smith drove home a Chris Crombie cross on 40 minutes to put Lhanbryde further behind at the break, with some good saves by Paul Morrison keeping them still in it. Kelly Sim’s header gave United a glimmer of hope, but when Mitchell rounded the keeper to score his second and Willie Adams lobbed in a fifth, the contest was all but over. Chris Cooper fired home number six, and Mitchell completed his hat-trick with a 35 yard blast which the keeper never saw. Richard Johnston put through his own goal and Adams netted a solo effort at the death to complete a 9-2 romp for Brander.
In Division 1, champions FC Buckie look destined to finish their league campaign unbeaten after winning 5-1 at Thunderton.
Ryan Mair’s opener was cancelled out by a 35 yard screamer by Ashley Tew for the home side. Two quick goals after the break from Ricky Clark and Daryl McGregor pushed FCB into a commanding position, before Scott Fielding’s 27th and 28th goals of the campaign took the match beyond the home side.
For a full Moray welfare round-up and photos, see Friday's Northern Scot
