Hopeman regain top spot in Abbeyside Moray welfare league leaving Craigellachie still searching for first win
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Moray welfare league new boys Craigellachie made Hopeman work hard to gain top spot on Tuesday night.
Two late goals sealed a 4-1 Hopeman win which took them above Aberlour Villa into first place in the table.
Craigellachie, who are looking for their first league point in their debut season in the Moray league, took a surprise lead.
The Speysiders looked sharp out of the blocks with the best of the early possession and were rewarded when Ewan Hills punished a defensive mix up to score on 15 minutes.
Hopeman were struggling to get going and the normally deadly boot of Chris Cooper was off the mark when he ballooned a great chance over.
Just when it looked like Craig would hold their lead until the interval, Hopeman struck a minute before the break. Connor McArthur netted his fifth of the season, getting the final touch to a corner kick.
This gave the visitors some confidence going into the second half and within five minutes they were in front.
Another well-delivered Cooper setpiece was met by Iain Lunan who nodded home.
The game was still in the balance with Craigellachie pushing on in search of an equaliser and a first point when they were stung by two goals at the other end in the closing three minutes.
A mistake from the home keeper left Lunan with the easiest of tap-ins for his seventh goal of the season, making the defender the league's top scorer.
Then deep into stoppage time another Hopeman corner picked out Ryan Fiske at the near post to seal victory.