Scottish Highland Football League
Saturday 21st August 2010
Brora Rangers 0 Formartine United 2
A sensational second 45 minutes catapulted Formartine to their highest ever Highland league position tucked nicely behind Inverurie Locos on goal difference on the 10 point mark, with the North Lodge men leaving Dudgeon Park with all 3 points thanks to two goals from the striking partnership of McKay and Bagshaw. This was no mean feat at Dudgeon Park an outcome many other visitors will fail to achieve against a much improved and well organised Brora.
Formartine made 2 changes from their midweek Aberdeenshire cup exit at Victoria Park, strengthening the midfield with Richie Davisdon, making his first start for the club and Ally Graham returning to the starting 11 for the suspended Callum Irvine. Ross Gardiner moved from left back into the centre of defence with Bobby Maitland moving over to the right wing. Ritchie Singer made a welcome return to the squad on the bench. Barrie Stephen and Barry Somers were still missing due to ankle and foot injuries respectfully.
With high winds prevalent in the highlands, Formartine won the toss and decided to play with the wind in the hope of building up an early lead. As it proved it was the home team that created the best of the early chances with McKain coming the closest hitting the side net when free at the back post 10 yards out then Jones did find the back of the net but the assistant referee’s flag came to Formartine’s rescue after the forward started his blind side run past Simpson too early to evade the official’s eagle eye.
Despite the windy conditions United’s passing game did show early signs of reaping its reward with Bagshaw and McKay receiving a plentiful supply of ball from the industrious Notman and Davidson in particular. McKay tested Martin’s handling as early as the 7th minute with a 20 yard dipping shot from a Bagshaw lay-off while Davison and Notman both shot tamely wide after good build up work from Bagshaw and Mckay.
Both defences were coping with their respective attacking counterparts with the conditions surprisingly having little affect on the quality of the play with both
teams sharing possession in an end to end first half, although the visitors were playing more of the controlled football while the home team tended to go for the longer ball options up the wing in an attempt to get behind the United defence. On the half hour mark Formartine’s enterprising interplay on the deck created the best opening: Graham, Davidson and McKay combined down the left for Urquhart to beat his man and cross to the far post but Maitland lacked the conviction and belief to put in a sufficiently meaningful header to trouble the Brora goal.
At the other end Gray was brought into action when a Ross Gardiner clearance header from a McKenzie corner fell perfectly for MacDonald to volley a powerful shot directly at the Formartine keeper allowing him to turn the ball away for a corner.
The clearest chance of the first half fell to Formartine late on when Martin brought off a double save from McKay. In 42 minutes a neat Bagshaw flick split the Brora central defence and allowed McKay to bear down on Martin and drive his shot in from 12 yards which was blocked by the keeper’s feet. 30 seconds later the Brora clearance was returned for Bagshaw to again set up his strike partner, this time on the left only for the captain to see his shot collected by the keeper.
With honours even at half time, manager Gardiner would have been looking for Formartine’s better passing and creative talents to reap their rewards during the second 45 minutes and find a clinical final touch. With the winds subsiding the visitors did not have the same obstacle to overcome as the home team did during the first period, however little did the small travelling band of United faithful expect to reap the reward of their long journey as early as the 51st minute. Skipper McKAY collected a through ball from Notman and cleverly turned inside Smith, who lost his footing allowing the predatory Formartine striker time to set himself before rifling an unstoppable shot past Martin from 15 yards into the roof of the net.
On the hour mark, Richie Davidson had to be replaced by Ritchie Singer after pulling a muscle in his back, allowing Singer to get his first competitive action of the season.
In 63 minutes Formartine extended their lead this time through strike partner Andrew BAGSHAW. He collected a Stuart Cumming pass on the right and turned his man before passing to midfield playmaker Notman who, in plentiful space 20 yards from goal, took one touch before striking a powerful shot which was too hot for Martin to hold. The keeper spilled the ball far enough in front of himself for BAGSHAW, who continued his run into the danger area, to pounce and drill a low shot below the recovering keeper from 6 yards.
The second goal visibly deflated Formartine’s hosts and reinstated United’s confidence, bruised in midweek, with the visitor’s neat flicks coming off and the midfield working tirelessly to collect second balls and make space to ensure the front two always had an outlet.
United had a couple of decent shouts for penalties turned down: first in 65 minutes as McKay was impeded when he collected an Ally Graham header and again in 75 minutes when Andy Bagshaw had his shirt pulled in the box. The shirt pulling incident in particular riled the Formartine bench, with John Gardiner remonstrating with the officials in his own inimitable fashion, leading to a group of visiting youngsters from Orkney singing “who’s the loony in the suit” for the closing stages of the game and just to make sure no other Formartine official took offence amended the chant to “who’s the loony in the suit – John Gardiner”. All entertaining stuff when you’re 2 goals ahead.
Brora did find their way forward late in the game with their only real chance coming from a Mackay-Steven free kick routine which curled just over Gray’s right hand post. However it was too little too late for Andy McLeod’s team who could not contain United during the second 45 in particular, where Bagshaw and McKay were a constant menace to Munro and Smith and United’s midfield failed to give their Brora counterparts any time on the ball forcing them into errors, while United retained possession well and created the better of the chances during the game.
Formartine’s next outing will be next Saturday at North Lodge where Buckie Thistle will be the visitors providing the home team with an early chance to gain revenge for their Aberdeenshire Cup exit and extend their league advantage over the reigning champions.
Teams:
Brora Rangers: Martin, Neill, MacDonald, MacLeod, Munri, Smith, MacKay-Steven, Begg, Jones, MacKenzie, McKain. Subs: McKernie, Baxter, MacKintosh, McKie, Bell.
Formartine United: Gray, Cumming, Graham, Notman, Simpson, Gardiner, Maitland, Urquhart, McKay, Bagshaw, Davidson. Subs: Singer, Tait, Irvine, Booth, Milne. |
