Cullen strike eight in Moray welfare cup romp while Fochabers keep winning and Buckie Rovers edge out RAF Lossiemouth
A dazzling 8-1 victory outshone the league’s top three sides.
Moray welfare’s leading trio of Fochabers, Aberlour Villa and Buckie Rovers all kept up their good starts in league and cup action but it was Cullen who hogged the headlines.
The on-form coast outfit clocked up their fourth win on the spin with a dominant display against Lhanbryde United in the Mike Simpson Memorial Trophy.
The preliminary round tie saw Jae Marandola fire Cullen ahead after 15 minutes at Logie Park, and it stayed 1-0 until the closing minutes of the half.
Lhanbryde defender Tommy Henderson turned a Logan Macaulay Mill cross into his own net and Marandola netted his second on the stroke of half time to make it 3-0 to Cullen.
Mill got in on the scoring act early in the second half and Greg Hay made it 5-0 before ASshley Lake’s header pulled one back for United with nine minutes left.
Back came Cullen with Mill and Hay both joining Marandola on doubles, and Mill produced a superb finish late on to complete his hat-trick and complete an 8-1 success, booking a home quarter-final against RAF Lossiemouth.
The air service side was involved in Tuesday’s only league match at home to champions Buckie Rovers - and it turned out to be a thriller.
Ben Carby got Lossie off to a sensational start with a first minute opener which was quickly cancelled out by strikes from Aaron O’Hara and Noel Scott by the 11th minute.
Carby got another and former Lossiemouth man Danny Gofton also scored after Scott has restored the Buckie lead on 57 minutes.
Scott, who will sign for junior champions Lossiemouth United next season after leaving Islavale, completed his hat-trick on 65 minutes with what proved to be the winner in a 4-3 Rovers success.
Hopeman played host to an all-conquering Aberlour Villa side in the Mike Simpson Cup and it was Villa who won 3-1 to set up a Speyside derby against Craigellachie in the quarters.
Korey Pring’s inswinging corner hit the post for Aberlour early on, while at the other end Craig Robertson’s free kick struck the top of the Aberlour bar.
Kris Duncan continued his scoring exploits for Villa by lobbing in their opener after 15 minutes, and the former Highland League front man slipped as he looked poised to net a second soon after.
Duncan did get his second, becoming the league’s top scorer with nine goals with a header from Pring’s ball across goal.
Hopeman were awarded a penalty when a corner by Ryan Fiske saw Rafael Polonio Gonzalez’s header come off the hand of a Villa player. Captain Matthew Herley took the kick but Villa keeper Shaun Robertson saved low to his right.
Ruari Watt fired Aberlour three goals ahead early in the second half, but Hopeman hit back well with Robertson fingertipping a Ryan Fiske corner away from goal, then the keeper saved an Iain Lunan header on his goal line.
On 69 minutes, Connor McArthur gave Hopeman a lifeline with a goal from 20 yards which seemed to come off his shin but looped over the keeper and into the net.
Hopeman keeper Iain Wilson had a good double save from Pring and substitute Reece Davies, as the visitors held on for victory with the teams meeting again on league business on Friday.
Fochabers will host Buckie Rovers in a repeat of last season’s Mike Simpson final following the Speysiders’ 4-2 win at Lossie United Amateurs in the preliminary round.
Kyle Hay put United ahead at one stage but the league leaders proved too strong with goals by Danny Gresham (2), Warren Orford and Russell Geddes. Ewan Hills got the other United goal.
Portsoy and Ugie, who both received byes, will meet in the other quarter-final in Portsoy.