Grantown United keep slim welfare football title hopes alive
Four days after their last encounter, Grantown Rovers’ luck failed to hold on Tuesday night as they were unable to field even a shoestring side in their scheduled league encounter with Aviemore Thistle.
The Jags were therefore awarded a walkover win, putting them in touching distance of retaining the league shield.
They now only need a point from their remaining two games to ensure the crown remains in Aviemore.
Cromdale 1-1 FC Abernethy
Abernethy started strongly and controlled possession. They created some good chances early in the first half.
Jules Orsi was regularly latching onto balls over the top, and he eventually finished smartly from an Andrew Lehane through ball to give Abernethy the lead.
Chances continued to come and go, with Chris Tilbury putting a header just wide and Martin Guckian was thwarted by a good save.
Orsi almost made it 2-0 with a carbon copy of his goal but this time his finish clipped the post and went wide.
He then had a golden chance when he calmy chested down a Tilbury cross but with the goal gaping he put the ball over the bar with his normally reliable right foot.
In the second half Abernethy started to tire but continued to create chances.
Matt Berry added pace to their attack and almost grabbed a decisive goal on a couple of occasions.
But Cromdale remained determined to restore parity and they did that just that midway through the second half.
A free kick was swung into the box and Dan Whitehorn rose to nod home at the far post.
To Silva was standing-in as keeper performing brilliantly and he had the solid pairing or Gary McHendry and Rob Stewart in front of him for the visitors.
At the other end Nethy found it tough to break down the hosts but they almost got the winner when Tilbury’s majestic volley from 35 yards clipped the roof of the net with the keeper beaten.
However, Cromdale also stood firm to deny Abernethy their third successive win.
Grantown Utd 5-1 Badenoch Utd
United went into this encounter knowing they had to win otherwise Aviemore Thistle would secure the league shield without having to kick a ball.
Neither side had any real chances to speak of in the opening stages, and it was not until 20 minutes before the game saw its first real bit of action.
Grantown’s Liam Grant rounded the keeper but was off balance as he swung at the ball and his final effort cleared the bar.
But just moments later the deadlock was finally broken, and it was Grant who was involved once again.
He managed to wriggle himself into space before unleashing a powerful drive that rippled the net.
This goal invigorated the hosts as they extended their lead just after the half hour.
Kane Davies accepted a low cross into the and laid it off smartly for Damian Palugga to slot inside the post.
Grantown’s tails were up now as they continued to press forward.
And shortly before the interval Fraser Greenlees tapped them 3-0 up when a loose ball fell kindly to him a yard or so in front of goal.
Grantown were clearly determined to keep Aviemore’s champagne on ice and they came out flying for the second half, earning a penalty almost from the kick off.
Grant stepped up but his effort was straight down the middle and well held by the keeper.
Five minutes later though they did score again.
Seoras Alliod collected the ball on the edge of the box and let fly with a glorious volley that flew into the net.
With 10 minutes remaining Matty Reynolds found himself with too good an opportunity to pass-up and he duly netted goal number 5.
Badenoch to their credit they kept going, and were rewarded on the stroke of full time with a deserved goal.
Finlay McBain drove the ball sweetly inside the right hand post for a consolation goal in the 5-1 defeat.
