PICTURES: Rothes A return to Moray welfare football league but can't stop hosts Hopeman from powering to victory
Rothes A are back in the Moray welfare set-up - but they were given a footballing lesson on day one.
The league returned to action on Friday night with ten teams battling it out, including Rothes, Lhanbryde, Portsoy and Thunderton all coming back after some time out of the league.
Rothes began with a visit to Hopeman, who lost out on the title last season to FC Fochabers on a head-to-head after the teams were tied on points.
The Moray coast side have recruited a number of new players in their effort to go one better this year.
One of the new Hopeman boys, Jamie Lees, headed just past from a Connor McArthur cross early on.
Former Highland League striker James McLaren then forced Rothes keeper Zak Smith to punch clear, while the Speysiders' first attack saw Bruno Martins fire a 25-yard free kick well over.
Veteran Gary Burr fired just wide for Hopeman following good work by Lees, but the opening goal arrived for Hopeman on 22 minutes.
Lees chased a lost cause to win possession for the home side and set up Danny Gresham, whose deflected strike found the net.
Aiden Bell then fired just over from 25 yards for Hopeman before McLaren opened his scoring account for Hopeman with a turn of pace and a fine strike from outside the box which flew inside the post.
It was 3-0 on 36 minutes with the lively Lees finding McLaren who beat two men and slipped home his second of the game.
A minute later Rothes had a great chance from a sloppy Hopeman passback but Anel Alagic shot over with just the keeper to beat.
Lees then had a header cleared off the line by Adam Irvine before Chris Cooper netted Hopeman's fourth from a trademark long distance free kick which he curled past Smith.
Four minutes after half time, Rothes A were celebrating their first goal since returning to welfare football - and it was a cracker.
They won a free kick 35 yards from goal and Aaron Anderson curled it into the top corner past a helpless Jamie Brown.
Hopeman hit back with McArthur forcing a Smith save and the keeper also denied Lees on the rebound.
Another Hopeman newcomer Munro Newlands came on as sub for veteran Iain Lunan and produced a performance of maturity on his debut.
Rothes refused to give up on the match with Anderson trying his luck from another free kick which Brown fisted clear.
However, Martins produced a superb dipping volley on 62 minutes to beat Brown and further reduce the Hopeman lead.
The home side needed to regain their ruthless edge with Smith saving from Lees, while at the other end Brown had to turn over an Irvine effort to deny the visitors a third.
Hopeman subs James Turnbull and James MacPherson both went close to scoring but in the closing minutes, the home team stepped up their game to seal victory.
Turnbull netted from close range on 85 minutes after Burr's header was saved, and within a minute Rothes defender Tiago da Silva turned the ball into his own net after good play by Hopeman sub Lee Spencer.
It was three goals in as many minutes when Turnbull slipped a pass through to Lees who got the goal his performance on the night deserved with a fine lobbed effort.