Aviemore Thistle claim first welfare league title in 17 years
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Aviemore Thistle secured their first Strathspey and Badenoch Welfare Football Association league title since 2006 with a thumping win over luckless Grantown Rovers on Tuesday evening.
Grantown Rovers 0-16 Aviemore Thistle
Aviemore came out the traps quick and were one up inside five minutes, Rory McKinnon with a back post header to continue his impressive form.
Thistle were two goals ahead just five minutes later when a Blair Craig free kick found the top corner of the Grantown goal.
The goals would keep coming for Thistle who were not for letting up.
David Ross started his goal tally for the evening with a well driven shot into the bottom corner from 15 yards out.
Aviemore’s impressive play would continue until half time where McKinnon and Ross both came out with first half hat tricks.
The heavens opened for the second half making playing conditions very difficult.
But McKinnon was oblivious and he would end up scoring another two hat-tricks taking his goal tally for night to an impressive nine, and a total of 29 for the season so far. Andy Howe came off the bench for the Jags getting his name on the scoresheet with a quick fire double.
The scoring was concluded when the usual Aviemore keeper Xavio Vastano got a run out in midfield, and his well-timed run saw him bearing down on the Grantown keeper and a very neat chip saw the ball hit the back of the net.
Abernethy 1-1 Cromdale
Cromdale dominated the first half but Abernethy always posed a threat with Martin Guckian and To Silva working hard up front.
The visitors had a great chance to go ahead when Nethy keeper Alex Starace was adjudged to have fouled Ewan Mackintosh inside the area. However, the goalkeeper redeemed himself by getting his fingertips to Graham Murray’s spot kick onto the bar, with Murray missing the follow up.
The second half continued in much the same way and Cromdale eventually took the lead. Iain Brooks collected a cross and took a wonderful touching before pivoting on the six yard line and knocking home.
But Abernethy did not let their heads drop and fought back with a quick equaliser.
Good linkup play between Martin Guckian and To Silva saw Jules Orsi played in behind the Cromdale defence and the Abernethy stalwart Cooley rolled the ball home with his supposedly weaker right foot. Cromdale pushed hard for a winner, however, the Abernethy defence stood strong with Rob Stewart, Gary McHendry and Alex Smith proving a impenetrable wall.
As time ticked away a couple of goalmouth scrambles led to the ball being dramatically cleared off the line by Smith and the game ended in a hard-fought draw.
Badenoch Utd 0-12 Boat of Garten Ospreys
The Ospreys knew their paper-thin chance of defending their league title was out of their hands, but they threw everything at United in a last stand.
This was helped in no small way by the hosts only being able to field nine players.
Stefan Ritchie led the way with a stunning five goals.
Scott Farquhar and Adam Szinyeri bagged two apiece, with single strikes from Seoras Alliod, Fraser Greenless and Kalen Clark completing the route.
But this still proved too little too late for Boat as results elsewhere meant the shield would be leaving Boat of Garten and heading along the road to Aviemore instead for the 2023 season.
