Buckie Thistle1–3Formartine United

After the guts of a month without a ball being kicked in anger, the chances of a slick, smooth- running start to this game were always going to be minimal and given the subtext of Formartine having put ten past Thistle in their penultimate game, Buckie were well disposed towards doing all they could to nip any signs of Formartine fluency in the bud. This they managed to some extent but the means by which it was achieved (persistent niggly, wee, off the ball fouls all over the park) also diminished the game as a spectacle. Formartine nevertheless, without setting many pulses racing, moved comfortably enough into the quarter final of the Breedon Aggregates Cup where they are at home to Brora.

Opening exchanges in blustery conditions were of an energetic end to end nature and the first indications of either side getting the better of things were best seen in the vigorous encounters between the visitors’ Gary Wood and home centre half, MacKinnon. The defender struggled from the outset to cope with the pace and physical presence of the big striker and it was clear that Woody was in the mood for goals. In the 5th minute he got away from his marker and into the box to slip the ball into the path of Gauld whose shot was blocked by someone’s knees. At the other end, Taylor got in an angled drive from the right side of the box but it was easily taken by Reid.

Formartine pressure came mostly through the middle and down the left where Smith would advance to a position about thirty yards short of the goal line and a few yards in from touch on the left and install himself as a supply base for a series of balls into the box. Gauld and Rodger were the principal beneficiaries of these and as early as the 10th minute there were signs that United were beginning, just, to get the upper hand. Consistent with the run of play, Wood put United ahead in the 13th minute after a Buckie attack around but not in the Formartine box was broken up by newcomer Scott Henry who dispossessed Fraser and slipped the ball to Crawford. The lanky centre back saw the long ball opportunity and lofted it over the top and on to WOOD who suckered McKinnon on the edge of the area and broke a couple of yards forward to drill the ball hard and low past the leaping Salmon.

The effect of this opener was to up the Buckie work rate and also the frequency of shoves in the back, jersey tugs, ankle clips and the like: the signs of an already rattled side. Some of this was subtle enough to escape official notice but both McKinnon and Cheyne were Buckie luggers, not to be red carded for persistent fouling after receiving yellows. Rustiness from both sides was not aided by a really awkward blustering wind and moves tended to breakdown prematurely but even in this Formartine had better shape and tempo.

Around the 25th minute Buckie managed to sustain a wee bit of pressure around the Formartine box. They seldom had the penetration to mount a goal threat as the new centre back paring of Henry and Crawford along with full backs Dingwall and Smith organised well enough to confine Angus, Fraser and Taylor to relatively safe areas. Formartine were comfortable enough at the back – there was the odd minor misunderstanding as the new line up bedded in but they were well in control – and clever, organised and powerful on the break.

This showed in the 28th minute when in the aftermath of a Buckie attack the ball was worked from back to front. Anderson and Smith overlapped while ahead of them Rodger and Masson did likewise. Masson took the ball to the left corner flag before beating Wood to make enough space to measure a cross to SMITH who had continued his initial run to a point about twelve yards out and in line with the back post. The full back finished with all the aplomb of an accomplished striker by driving the ball cleanly beyond the diving Salmon.

Formartine were pretty much in control throughout the pitch. Buckie were committed and energetic but lacked the guile and finesse to offer a serious threat to their visitors. It was, however, fairly clear that there was going to be no repeat of the previous double figure rout. Gary Wood did however give rise to some fleeting hopes of the same when he put United 3 ahead just before the interval with a classic route one goal. A big over the top ball from defence by Henry reached Gary WOOD who had it quickly under control and split defenders Shaun Wood and Dorrat before advancing on the floundering Salmon and selling him a dummy before casually flipping the ball into the empty net.

The second half was a different affair entirely. Buckie began by substituting Fraser with Andy Low – a like for like striker swap and nothing really to alter their pattern, but something happened over the interval and Thistle were a much improved side in the second period. As time went on it was clear that Formartine’s grip in midfield was nothing like it had been earlier. Rodger worked away but Masson, Anderson and Barbour faded. What was amiss is hard to accurately identify but the visible result was that Buckie were winning an awful lot of “second balls” and consequently made it difficult for united to provide ammunition for Wood and the lively but under –fed Gauld.

It was not really a case of Buckie getting on top of Formartine – more one of their finding a better way of keeping them at bay. It made for a rather scrappy affair as despite getting a better grip in the middle Buckie still struggled to make much headway in the final third where United’s defence was pretty steady. The exception to this came in the 68th minute when Buckie managed to mount a wee siege on the United goalmouth. An Angus chip was headed away by Smith and knocked back in by Taylor. The ball bobbled about in front of the right upright before squirting out from a ruck of players like a bar of soap in the bath, to fall for LOW about 8 yards out who clipped it beyond the reach of Reid.

This provided Buckie with a bit of belief but despite ramping up the pressure, they still were getting little change out of the Formartine rearguard and although less frequently than formerly, Formartine still looked menacing on the break. A fifty yard on-side dash by Gauld took him from his own half and thereby onside right into the box when just as he was about to deliver the final blow, the ball bobbled visibly and veered just enough Salmon’s way to be poked away before it was netted.

As time went on, the heavy pitch created tired legs and the pace dropped a bit. Formartine gained a tad more possession, got back in enough control to run down the clock, emerge without injury and progress to the next stage.