New season of Strathspey & Badenoch Welfare Football League kicks off
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The Strathspey & Badenoch Welfare Football League campaign kicked off on Tuesday evening, with Boat of Garten Ospreys looking to defend the shield they won last season.
However, it is FC Abernethy who got off to the best start with a big win over new boys Grantown Rovers.
Badenoch United also lost on their league debut too.
Grantown Rovers 0-7 FC Abernethy
Carrbridge was the venue for this encounter as Rovers looked to bounce back from their introductory mauling at the hands of Aviemore Thistle.
But Abernethy were in no mood to dish out any sympathy. Calum Maclennan got the visitors off to an early start when he slotted home the first after some good football on the edge of the box.
And Jules Orsi made it two with a smart finish – a looping header at the back post.
Doug Guy then made a bit of personal history with his first ever goal in football, smashing home a penalty after a Rovers handball in the box.
Ben Buckler then scored with two clinical finishes after some flowing moves in midfield, before Orsi nabbed his own brace with another neat finish. Despite the scoreline, Rovers were by no means cannon-fodder, with first Morgan Anderson then Conan Quinn smacking the woodwork.
The second half was a much tighter affair, with some decent chances for both sides, with Anderson again coming agonisingly close for Grantown with an effort that just missed the post. But the only goal came from Ben Buckler who completed his hat trick in style.
Cromdale 4-0 Badenoch United
This was a rematch of the McCook Cup first round encounter, with a near carbon copy result as Cromdale ensured all three points remained in the village.
Just after the quarter hour Dale were awarded a free kick on the halfway line.
Ben Buckler lofted a speculative effort which took a wicked bounce right in front of United keeper Josh Barrett which sailed over his head and into the back of the net.
United hit back five minutes later through Jason Minard from a through ball from Bailey Allan, but the goal was chalked off by the referee for offside.
The woodwork came to United’s defence on the half hour when Connor Clark played in Charlie Mackay, and his run down the line produced a fine through ball to Declan Sellars only for his effort to skiff the crossbar.
Sellars was in action again shortly after when he was felled in the area by the keeper for a Cromdale penalty. Graham Murray made no mistake from the spot to make it 2-0.
Just before the interval United had a great chance to pull one back with a Scott MacDonald strike from 20 yards, but Dale keeper Matthew Betolli was equal to the task with a brilliant save.
The rebound fell to Minard, however, the ball came off his shin and went wide of the target.
Into the second half and Cromdale extended their lead on 70 minutes through a fine solo effort by Angus Willhouse, who had defenders bouncing off him before sending Barrett the wrong way.
Ten minutes later it was 4-0 when a long throw-in from Ewan Mackintosh found Conor Clark in space, and his deft touch slid the ball past the keeper.
But with two minutes to go Badenoch had another gilt-edged chance to pull a goal back when they were awarded a penalty after a foul in the box. However, Dougal Cameron’s effort from 12 yards was expertly punched away by Betolli to maintain his clean sheet.
Aviemore Thistle 3-2 Boat of Garten Ospreys
The Aviemore Jags and Ospreys faced off again just a week after Aviemore triumphed in the McCook Cup Final.
The Aviemore side lifted the silverware seven days earlier with a 3-0 win.
But this first league encounter of the season was to be a much closer affair.
David Ross got the hosts off to the perfect start when he latched onto a delicate through ball from Ross Peters before slotting home.
Jake Reynolds-Jones then doubled the Jags’ tally with a sublime volley from the edge of the box which nestled in the bottom corner of the Ospreys’ net.
Boat soon hit back though.
A long ball over the defence from Cairn Giles caused havoc in the Thistle defence.
Stefan Ritchie capitalised on the chaos to steal the loose ball and drill it home from 15 yards out.
And with half time approaching it was a case of game on as the Ospreys drew level.
More sloppy defending by the Jags back line created a game of pinball as Thistle tried desperately to clear their lines.
However, Matthew Reynold unleashed a shot which ultimately landed at the feet of Kalen Clark and he made no mistake with the rebound.
The second half was another pulsating duel between two excellent sides, but it was Aviemore who would have the final word.
Dafydd Simon’s fine turn and through ball found Rory Mackinnon unmarked and he duly despatched what would prove to be the winning goal.
