Aberlour Villa defeat Interclyde to reach Donald McNair Scottish Welfare Cup semi-finals along with Belleaire, Greenock and Mormond Thistle
Aberlour Villa have reached the semi-finals of the Donald McNair Scottish Welfare Cup.
The Speyside outfit, currently in their centenary year and in contention for the Moray welfare league title, saw off Greenock side Interclyde 3-0 on Saturday.
Villa will now discover who they play in the last four tonight, with two more Greenock league sides and a Buchan rival also in the draw.
Flying the flag for Moray on the national scene, Aberlour nearly scored early on when Stephen McKenzie’s effort from 40 yards out nearly caught out the visiting keeper.
The home pressure continued with Korey Pring firing wide with a right foot shot and Kelvin Main just off the mark with a header inside the opening ten minutes.
Midway through the half it should have been 1-0 to Villa but Jay Morrison shot wide, and moments later Bradley Ogg put a free kick just past as the Moray side continued to turn the screw.
The chances kept coming for Aberlour and Jay Morrison lifted Liam Munro’s square pass high over on 27 minutes, and right on half time Munro himself missed a header at the back post from good work by Ruari Watt.
The sides went in at the break with a blank scoreline, Villa perhaps wondering if it was going to be their day.
But within a minute of the restart they made a scoring breakthrough thanks to a great finish from Barry Grant.
The Inverclyde-based visitors finally came into the game with a first effort on goal, wide of the target.
They were awarded a penalty a minute later for Main’s handball offence in the box but put the kick well past the goal, keeping Villa in front.
Ten minutes into the second half, the home side had one foot in the semi-finals as Grant scored his second goal of the game to double the Villa advantage.
Jay Morrison then headed past, before seeing another effort blocked after a through pass by Ruari Watt.
Victory was sealed on 75 minutes from a Pring corner which was touched home by Marcus Murray for his tenth goal of the season.
Murray had a late effort saved but there was no way back for Interclyde as Villa marched on in the competition.
They will go in the draw with Greenock and District League pair Belleaire and Greenock, as well as Buchan league side Mormond Thistle, from Strichen, who won their quarter-final tie 9-0.
Villa are only two points behind Buckie Rovers in the chase for the Moray welfare league title, and tonight (Tuesday) they host Hopeman in the semi-finals of the Mike Simpson Memorial Trophy as they pursue a trophy treble.
