Strathspey and Badenoch Welfare League season kicks off
The Strathspey & Badenoch Welfare Football League has kicked off for the new season and there were wins for defending champions Aviemore Thistle, FC Abernethy and Cromdale.
FC Abernethy 6-2 Grantown Rovers
The scoreline may be slightly flattering, however Abernethy notched up a win on the opening day of the season.
They got off to the perfect start when, after 7 minutes, goal machine Ben Buckler finished off the post following great work down the left by Jules Orsi and Martin Guckian.
Abernethy continued to create chances and Orsi was denied after his rifled half volley was chalked off for offside.
Ten minutes later the lead was doubled when Buckler latched on to a thumping defensive header by Alex Smith and slotted home coolly into the bottom corner.
Rovers pulled one back through a powerful Blair Bingham strike, but shorty after they were reduced to 10 men after an exchange between the referee and Kyle Scott.
Nethy extended their lead when Guckian nipped in front of the goalkeeper to glance a header home after a flicked cross from Jack Ward.
And he then got his second of the match after a sharp interchange in midfield between Buckler and Kenny Rogan saw him played through on goal and he smashed his finish high into the net.
Almost immediately after half time, Abernethy went 5-1 ahead when Lee Davies finished well with Buckler once again involved in the build-up.
Rovers were thwarted by a fantastic save from Calum Guy in the Abernethy goal with Ian Wraight somehow clearing the ball off the line from the rebound.
The visitors were then presented with the chance to pull one back when Tom Anderson’s bulldozing run into the box ended with him being scythed down for a penalty.
John Fowler made no mistake from the spot.
Rovers continued to push but the defensive three of Rob Stewart, Ian Wraight and Alex Smith stood strong.
Abernethy scored again in the last minute when sub Tom Devereux rose to power a header into the bottom corner after Jack Ward had caused chaos in the Rovers defence.
Grantown Utd 2-4 Aviemore Thistle
This was the sides’ second meeting in four days following last week’s Dalvey Cup final, and United were looking for a bit of revenge.
Fraser Greenlees was unlucky at the midway point with a shot from outside the box which the Jags’ stopper did well to hold.
But the striker was not to be denied, and on 38 minutes he found the back of the net. He sweetly brought down a cross from James McShane before cutting into the box and slotting low into the bottom right corner.
Kian Davies almost made it 2-0 just before the interval when he was one-on-one with the keeper but the stopper did well.
The game burst into life just after the hour when Rory Mackinnon collected a low cross and deftly prodded home.
And five minutes later Mackinnon turned the game on its head when he took down a long ball and dinked it over the United keeper’s head with a delightful finish.
But no sooner had Aviemore taken the lead than the sides were level again.
A McShane corner into the box found Scott Stewart and he volleyed it home for 2-2.
Both keepers were called into action with a succession of good saves as both sides went looking for a winner.
And with five minutes left go it was Aviemore who found it – and in some style.
Veteran David Robertson collected the ball on the edge of the penalty are and curled a majestic effort into the top corner of the net.
And moments layer Blair Craig emulated Robertson with a tremendous curling shot of his own into the top corner.
Badenoch Utd 1-2 Cromdale
It took some sloppy defending to see Cromdale break the deadlock.
On the half hour mark Dale were awarded a free kick for a clumsy challenge. The ball was swung across the area and Daniel Whitehead neatly nodded it into the path of Iain Brooks to nod home unmarked.
United emerged from the break a much-improved outfit. And they were rewarded when Toto Burnett stole the ball off a Cromdale foot and fed it through to Sam Cairns who thundered his shot inside the near post to restore parity.
Badenoch create a host of chances which they were unable to convert and they were made to pay.
A great through ball from Whitehorn found Declan Sellars in full flight down the right wing and he connected perfectly to fire it over the advancing keeper’s legs.
United pushed for a leveller but Dale dug deep and held on.