Appearances & Goals To Date

Andy Reid (GK)		37 apps	-
Jamie Michie		20 apps	-
Stuart Smith		108 apps	10 goals
Calum Dingwall		70 apps	5 goals
Paul Lawson		31 apps	9 goals
Hamish Munro		69 apps	3 goals
Callum Bagshaw		78 apps	11 goals
Graeme Rodger		41 apps	12 goals
Max Berton		12 apps	1 goal
Cammy Keith		102 apps	71 goals
Garry Wood		39 apps	30 goals
Neil McVitie (sub)		68 apps	14 goals
Neil Gauld (sub)		37 apps	17 goals

Starting Lineup

Matchday Squad

First Team Debuts

Milestones

As the season nears its conclusion, Formartine are left in the position of needing to win their last two games, (both away) against Nairn and Strathspey to pip Brora for second spot [providing they score more goals in the process than Brora do in their one remaining game]. United put their midweek disappointment of losing out to Cove behind them in the best possible way with a strong attacking performance that Clach struggled to contain throughout. On a pitch, playing heavy after 50mm of rain, Formartine set out their stall for attack with a 4-3-3 formation and took the game straight to Clach who, intent on damage limitation at worst and hoping to pinch a goal or two on the break at best, set up 4-5-1. The pattern was predictable with United hammering away at a packed visiting defence. It took less than ten minutes of this for United to find the key with which to open the defensive lock. Lawson, who was running the show from midfield, clipped a superbly accurate ball to Keith who held it up just long enough for WOOD to get into position to take a cross field pass. Advancing a few yards he measured line and range and despatched the ball well wide of keeper MacDonald.

United maintained the pressure and barely five minutes later got their second. Again Lawson was the architect: from deep in his own half and to the right played in Keith on the edge of the Clach box with a pass of uncanny power and accuracy which he executed without even lifting his head. So perfect was the delivery that KEITH was able to take the ball without breaking step and lash it past the keeper. Formartine were still intent on attack and moving the ball around slickly and smartly while the youthful Clach outfit did their best to cope by chasing and harrying very determinedly but it took them until the 25th minute to put together a sustained attack. Industry is its own reward and by sheer grit and grunt they worked the ball from deep to the front edge of the box in a fairly central position where Leslie unloaded a hard accurate drive that Reid did well to divert for a corner. From this Penwright also got in a decent shot but Smith was on hand to block it. There was enough in this wee spell to show that Clach were the sort of side that if given an inch could take a mile. United were however professional enough to stay on top.

In the 28th minute Michie advanced down the right before swinging over a cross to BERTON at the back post. Taking the ball on the volley the livewire winger crashed it well beyond the reach of MacDonald into the far corner of the net. This effectively put the match beyond the reach of Clach but they continued to work hard and although trailing United in most aspects of the game across most parts of the pitch, were not entirely without menace and seven minutes before the interval they pulled one back - enough of a reminder to United about what they could do given half a chance. Callum made a run down the right and drove the ball diagonally to Penwright at the back stick. His shot was powerful but Reid managed to block it. The ball landed well for LESLIE who had it in the net in a trice. Formartine continued to dominate but despite forcing a series of corners reached the interval without adding to their tally.

The second half showed continued graft from Clach in the face of United’s dominance particularly in midfield where Lawson was conducting a master class in distribution. In the 55th minute McVitie replaced Michie for his long awaited return after having lost more than half the season with a groin injury. The gritty midfielder was well up for it and made an immediate impact by forcing his way down the right before playing in Bagshaw and Wood for the latter to get in a shot that was just blocked at the last ditch by McGurk. “Biscuits” again fed Wood a minute later but the shot was a shade too high. United pressure continued and Berton did the spadework for number four with a cross right to left to BAGSHAW who volleyed the ball home beating MacDonald all ends up as he did so.

Formartine continued to dominate and Clach to offer spirited resistance until four minutes from the end when another surge down the right by McVitie set up United’s fifth and final goal. He banged in a shot towards the near post that was touched on by sub GAULD but blocked by Taylor however the persistent wee striker picked up the ebound and whipped it into the net to complete the score line.

Manager Hunter was satisfied that he “got a positive reaction after Wednesday night’s defeat against Cove and it was pleasing that we managed to win our last home game of the season to give supporters, who have been magnificent, something to cheer about.”

Match report by Colin Keenan

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