Local interest comes to end for Aviemore and Badenoch in national welfare football competitions
Local interest in the Scottish Welfare FA’s national trophy competitions came to an end on Saturday.
Aviemore Thistle and Badenoch Utd bowed out of the Scottish and Highland cups respectively.
Thistle had the daunting task of hosting last year’s Scottish Cup winners Mormond Thistle from the North East in the third round of the welfare’s flagship trophy.
It was the holders’ first taste of action on the Aviemore 3G but this seemed to have little effect as they went a goal up shortly before half time through an Owen Sutherland strike.
However the Jags managed to draw level on 73 minutes courtesy of Rory Mackinnon to give themselves a lifeline.
Sadly, this was not to last as late strikes from Charlie Scott and Fraser Davidson ensured the visitors’ defence of their silverware continues.
Meanwhile Badenoch headed north to the coast to face Moray & District side Hopeman in the second round of the Highland Cup.
Despite sitting atop the Strathspey and Badenoch Welfare Football Association league table, United were struggling for numbers to make the trip, and with only one sub available and it was always going to be a tough ask.
Gary Burr struck early for the hosts to give them the lead, and this was followed by a second for the striker five minutes from the interval to give Hopeman a 2-0 lead at the break.
United’s patchwork side did not conceded again until five minutes from time when Burr struck again to secure his hat-trick and see Hopeman run out comfortable 3-0 winners.
With United and Thistle neck-and-neck at the top of the David Ritchie & Sons Ltd league table, both sides can now focus all their energies on domestic matters with the local season on its mid-season hiatus.