Aviemore Thistle presented with Strathspey & Badenoch Welfare Football League shield
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Aviemore Thistle were presented with the league shield whilst Cromdale pipped last season’s champions Boat of Garten to second spot as the SBWFA League drew to a close on Tuesday evening.
At the foot of the table, Grantown Rovers finally earned their first point following a pulsating draw with Badenoch United.
Aviemore Thistle 14-0 FC Abernethy
Champions Aviemore Thistle were determined to end their season with a 100 per cent win record.
The game kicked off 25 minutes late due to a referee issue. The Jags took an early three goal lead with a double from Rory McKinnon and one from Damian Paluga.
McKinnon would soon double his tally after some great Aviemore moves proved too much for the Nethy defence to deal with.
And the deadly McKinnon had netted his double hat-trick before half time with another quick-fire double from some teasing crosses which were met expertly by the number nine.
Aviemore were in ruthless mood and the scoring continued early in the second half. David Ross latched on to a Cathcart through ball and slotted home for number eight.
McKinnon got his seventh and last of the night when his left footed drive was misjudged by the Nethy keeper and rolled into the far corner.
Aviemore made five subs on the hour mark and it did not take long before they were in the thick of the action.
Firstly David Robertson neatly controlled a switched ball and slid home from 12 yards to put the Jags into double figures.
Darren McConnell was next up with one of the goals of the season. A looping clearance from the Nethy defence only made it 30 yards and McConnell met it perfectly on the volley to rifle high into the top corner.
David Ross got his second of the night when a Damian Paluga through ball was expertly controlled with the outside of the midfielder’s foot, and his first-time volley left the keeper with no chance.
Darren McConnell also bagged a brace when the ball fell to him 25 yards out, and his well struck curling effort found the corner.
Sam Mcilroy concluded the scoring late on after Brian Minard’s powerful run through on goal resulted in him sliding the ball towards the back post, where Mcilroy pounced.
Boat of Garten Ospreys 1-2 Cromdale
Both sides were eyeing second spot going into this game, and that gave the encounter a real competitive edge.
The hosts took the lead midway through the first half when Connor Macleod’s long ball from deep was expertly collected by Stefan Ritchie and he ran through before chipping the keeper. There were howls of offside from the Cromdale bench, but the referee was unmoved.
Dale clearly felt aggrieved but this spurred them on, and they were soon on level terms. Fergus Riach showed a clean pair of heels down the wing, and his pinpoint cross was met by the head of Marcus Sellars at the back post to restore parity.
Into the second half and the visitors nosed themselves in front following some good interchanges between Riach and Josh Talbot. The latter’s in-swinging cross found Ian Brooks who leapt highest to nod home.
Boat then threw everything at Cromdale in a desperate effort to find the net once again but Dale’s defence held firm.
Indeed, Cromdale owe a debt to keeper Matthew Bettoli who somehow managed to punch a net bound effort off the line in the closing stages.
But it was not to be for the Ospreys as Cromdale held out till the final whistle.
Grantown Rovers 4-4 Badenoch Utd
It may have been the basement battle but this game meant so much to both sides as local pride was at stake.
Badenoch took the lead after only five minutes through Svend Pedersen but within five minutes Rovers drew level courtesy of a 30 yard screamer from Connor Nisbet.
And 10 minutes later Grantown went ahead with a powerful strike from Archie Bremner which flashed across goal before nestling into the bottom corner of the net.
Rovers were now filled with a confidence they had not experienced all season, and duly went 3-1 up when Lewis Bingham kept his nerve to round the keeper and slot home.
With United reeling, things only got worse for them on the stroke of half time.
Kyle Scott got a knee to the ball and somehow guided it through the flapping hands of the stopper and into the net to leave Grantown with a stunning three goal interval lead.
However, the half time talk clearly had a profound effect on the visitors as they knuckled down and managed to pull two goals back through a Finlay McBain double.
But up the other end Shane Barclay stung the crossbar with a powerful drive before a real moment of controversy.
Rovers Darren Gilfillan appeared to punch the ball off the line to deny United an equalise but his handball went unseen by the referee and Grantown heaved a huge sigh of relief.
This did not last long however as with 10 minutes remaining Pederson pounced once again to net his second of the night to bring the sides level at 4-4.
Scott almost grabbed a winner in the final five minutes for Grantown when his audacious chip over the keeper hit the post and bounced away to safety.
Then right on the final whistle Bryce Campbell burst through on goal but his effort flew high over the bar and Grantown had to settle for a point instead of the three their performance possibly deserved.
