Moray welfare round-up: Buckie United and Hopeman push for the top, Lossie Youths hit seven
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BUCKIE United made it four wins out of four in the Moray welfare league on Friday.
Hopeman moved up to second with a comeback win at Aberlour while Lossie Youths continue to move up the table after a 7-0 win over Elgin Golden Oldies.
Leaders Buckie took half an hour to get into their scoring groove as visitors Portsoy kept them at bay.
The deadlock was broken when Joe Sutherland picked up the ball from deep to go past a few men a send a fine chip through to William Morrison, who chested down and volleyed into the roof of the net.
Morrison added a second before the break, finishing clinically after Evan Smith had struck the bar.
Smith himself added Buckie's third, showing great skill to beat two men in the box before finishing low into the corner.
On 72 minutes Declan Clark headed in number four from a corner and youngster Callum Risk turned his marker to crash home the fifth and final home goal.
Aberlour's clash with Hopeman was a great game for the neutrals with the lead going back and forth.
Hopeman scored first against the run of play when Zander Main sent a good finish past keeper Steven Reid.
The visitors held their lead until half time but the game was turned on its head by two Villa goals.
Darren Mitchell beat a couple of defenders and dinked the ball over the keeper's head to level, and within two minutes Reece Cooper reacted quickest to Bradley Ogg free kick which was parried out to him to net the rebound.
Back came Hopeman to level the scores through Ryan Fiske's third of the season, and the coast side went in front when Tommy Roe scored.
Aberlour had the chance to square the contest again when top scorer David Blackhall was downed for a penalty which he took himself, only to see his effort saved brilliantly.
Despite some late home pressure, Hopeman held on for a win that puts them back up to second spot.
FC Fochabers were denied a third win of the campaign by a late leveller by ten-man Cullen.
Cullen were the dominant side in the first half, forcing some good saves out of the Fochabers keeper.
The home side improved after the break and took the lead from a Warren Orford penalty - his sixth goal of the season.
Cullen's challenge was blunted by a red card but they kept pushing and were rewarded by a fine finish into the top corner by Iain Mair.
Youth overcame experience at Elgin, where the Golden Oldies were overrun by Lossiemouth's young development prospects.
Brandon Edgar headed in a cross from the right to open Lossie's account and Jordan Clarke made it two after latching on to a long ball over the top.
When the home side stopped thinking the ball had gone out of play, the youths carried on and set up Clarke for his second of the game.
A mistake by EGOs' Scott Robertson let Harry Allen in to bend home a fourth goal and the same player quickly added his second.
A cutback gave Aidan McKay the chance to fire home number six and a penalty award allowed Allen to complete his hat-trick and the away team's tally.
Cullen host RAF Lossiemouth in tonight's only midweek match.
