Moray welfare round-up: Buckie United end RAF Lossiemouth unbeaten start while basement boys Elgin Golden Oldies and Tomintoul go close
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THE last remaining unbeaten record in the Moray welfare league was ended last Friday.
RAF Lossiemouth tasted defeat for the first time as Buckie United turned on the style to record a 5-1 win at Portgordon, helped by Paul Mellon's hat-trick.
Mellon opened the scoring on seven minutes, rounding the keeper near the corner flag before curling a superb finish in from a difficult angle.
The rest of the first half was a close affair with United keeper Ryan Brindle saving two Lossie efforts while Ryan Simpson put a great chance from six yards over the bar for Buckie.
The servicemen got a deserved equaliser right on half time, when a Kyle Turner free kick was missed by everyone and bounced in at the back post.
Lossie started the second half with plenty of possession while Mellon hit a post for the home team.
It was still level going into the final 15 minutes when Buckie made some changes and were rewarded when Nikki Soutar pounced at the back post to edge them back in front.
A great cross by United debut youngster Keane Davidson picked out Mellon to head in his second on 80 minutes.
Then the goal of the game came on 83 minutes when Russell Geddes let the ball bounce before hitting it from 35 yards out, and it hit the underside of the bar and back up into the roof of the net.
The icing on Buckie's cake was applied by the deadly Mellon, who tapped in a rebound off the bar right at the end.
Leaders Hopeman were 5-0 winners at Portsoy - the champions' fifth win on the spin.
Simon Inglis forced a good save out of 'Soy keeper Craig Ferguson early on while opposite number Glen Fraser denied Corbyn Wilson at the other end.
Hopeman's opener came when Lee Spencer spun to set up Blair Tulloch for a drive in at the near post.
Gary Burr picked the ball up on the left side to put a great cross in to Inglis to head in and make it 2-0.
Portsoy's night got worse when Ross Murray gave away a free kick at the edge of the box. Burr stepped up to fire the ball hard and low and increase the visitors' lead.
Portsoy started the second half in bright fashion with David McCallum and Wilson going close, as did Scott Wilson at the other end.
Hopeman's Wilson beat the offside trap to slot home his side's fourth, and when the same player was fouled for a penalty, Spencer converted to complete the scoring.
Leading goalscorers:
-11 Paul Mellon (Buckie United)
-11 Warren Orford (FC Fochabers)
-8 Branford Edgar (Lossie Youths)
-7 Aiden MacKay (Lossie Youths)
-6 David Blackhall (Aberlour Villa)
-5 Kieran Ferguson (Cullen)
-5 Ryan Fiske (Hopeman)
-5 Gary Burr (Hopeman)
Elgin Golden Oldies and Tomintoul might both be looking for their first point of the campaign, but both game their opponents a scare on Friday.
Tomintoul hosted on-form Aberlour Villa in a close game where both sides created good chances.
The first to be converted came midway through the first half when 'Toul took the lead with a great chipped goal by Jake Logan.
Aberlour Villa had their chances to equalise in the first half no no avaial, while Tomintoul could easily have added to their advantage.
The difference proved to be Villa player Jack Craib, who scored twice after the break to earn his team full points.
Toul keeper Ryan Dyer's resistance was broken when Craib levelled from outside the box with 20 minutes to go.
Ten minutes later Craib struck again amidst a scramble in the box, with the result cruel on Tomintoul as it could have gone either way.
The story was similar at Fochabers where Elgin Golden Oldies were the visitors.
James Higgins gave the home team a third minute lead from close range and Warren Orford's lob made it 2-0.
But former Highland League veteran Stuart Cameron's sweet lobbed finish put the match back in the melting pot before Gary Burchell struck to seal a narrow success for Fochabers.
