Formartine United 4 - 1 Deveronvale 

Highland League Cup - 2nd Round
Saturday, December 8th, 2018, 3:00 PM at North Lodge Park, Pitmedden
Attendance: 138
Referee: Paul McAvinue
Formartine United v Deveronvale, Dec 8th 2018, North Lodge Park, Pitmedden
Formartine United  Deveronvale

Goalscorers
Garry Wood (10)
Stuart Smith (51)
Conor Gethins (61)
Ryan Stott (85)
Grant Noble (53)

Team Managers
Paul Lawson Steve Doolan

Starting Eleven
Kevin Main
Joe MacPherson
Jevan Anderson
Stuart Smith
Stuart Anderson
Andrew Greig
Graeme Rodger
Aaron Norris
Kieran Lawrence
Archie MacPhee
Garry Wood
Grant Pennet
Lewis Dunbar
Harry Noble
Kevin Adams
Michael Dunn
Kyle Willox
Sam Robertson
Matthew Wallace
Robert Scott
Grant Noble
Jody Munro

Bench
Ewen MacDonald
Paul Lawson
Ryan Stott
Cole Anderson
Conor Gethins
Graeme Watt
Kyle Gauld
Daniel Middler
Robert Allan
Errol Watson

Substitutions
Conor Gethins for Garry Wood (61)
Ryan Stott for Andrew Greig (73)
Cole Anderson for Graeme Rodger (85)
Graeme Watt for Jody Munro (39)

Bookings
Graeme Rodger (75)
Robert Scott (82)

Red Cards
None. Michael Dunn (35)
Appearances & Goals To Date
Kevin Main (GK) 32 apps -
Joe MacPherson 15 apps -
Jevan Anderson 59 apps3 goals
Stuart Smith 221 apps21 goals
Stuart Anderson 191 apps33 goals
Andrew Greig 45 apps19 goals
Graeme Rodger 165 apps57 goals
Aaron Norris 15 apps1 goal
Kieran Lawrence 42 apps2 goals
Archie MacPhee 69 apps45 goals
Garry Wood 124 apps64 goals
Ryan Stott (sub) 20 apps4 goals
Conor Gethins (sub) 92 apps39 goals
Cole Anderson (sub) 2 apps -

Starting Lineup
Youngest Player:Joe MacPherson (18 years 99 days)
Oldest Player:Kevin Main (36 years 269 days)
Average Player Age:26 years 79 days
Domestic Players:11 (100.00 % of starting eleven)

Matchday Squad
Youngest Player:Cole Anderson (16 years 170 days)
Oldest Player:Kevin Main (36 years 269 days)
Average Player Age:26 years 251 days
Domestic Players:15 (93.75 % of matchday squad)

First Team Debuts

Milestones

It shouldn't have been as easy as this for Formartine to reach the semi final stage of the Breedon Aggregates Highland League Cup as thus score line suggests but a young, and inexperienced Vale side up against a more battle hardened side, the current holders of the trophy made some crucial errors in dangerous circumstances at ill chosen times and were punished accordingly. Beyond any doubt the turning point of the match was the dismissal of Vale centre back Michael Dunn for a “professional” foul on Gary Wood in the 35th minute at a point when United were already a goal to the good courtesy of the same Gary Wood. When the red card was shown it was really a case of it being all over bar the shouting albeit there was a fair bit of that about a dismissal that Vale thought to be at best, harsh and at worst, a severe refereeing error.

There was no dispute that Dunn deliberately brought down Wood with a trip from behind and a good shove in the back tae ”mac siccar”. At the time, the big striker was clear of the defender, with the ball well under control and about to let fly with only the keeper to beat from about 25 yards out. Those who see that as a clear goal scoring opportunity will have no doubt about the validity of the ref's decision, but those like the defender who thought that it wasn't were mightily aggrieved. Either way it was an unnecessarily risky decision for the defender to have made and tilted the game hugely in United's favour. The fact that United's first two goals came from corner kicks rubbed a fair bit of salt into Vale's wound.

In the absence of right back Crawford, who was injured in the warm up for the midweek Shield match at Buckie and the unavailability of McKeown, United although not quite at full strength, were still able to field a strong starting eleven with the return of captain Stuart Anderson to central defence.

For all that, Vale started quite brightly and pressed enough for Noble to get in a trundler that Main blocked low to his left before the first refereeing decision to irk the visitors came when in the 3rd minute Wallace pinched the ball off keeper Main and made off goalwards with it. Ref McAvinue was having none of it and awarded a free to United. Vociferous objections ensued. However as early as the 8th minute it was becoming clear that United were the slicker side and after pinning Vale back for a minute or two including for an unrewarded corner on the left, they forced another on the right. MacPhee struck it elegantly precisely to the head of WOOD right at the near post. The striker found a chink in the defence through which he headed the ball just inside the upright to about the only spot that keeper Pennet couldn't reach. That not only put United ahead but pretty much in charge of proceedings; they had the better of both possession and territory and were putting together enough slick moves to trouble the visitors.

Roger's bustling style and never say die attitude was an increasing problem for the Banffers and a twenty yard pile driver in the 18th minute looked net bound until it hit some lowish part of a defender and deflected to safety. Another a couple of minutes later met a similar fate. A couple of minutes after that in left midfield trying to force his way between a couple of defenders he took a nasty knock to his right leg that required protracted treatment on and off the pitch before he could resume. United pressure continued and a number of corners ensued. Those on the left were struck by Greig and those on the right by MacPhee. All were, with varying degrees of difficulty dealt with by a back four where the aerial power of Dunn was a notable asset.

Although United were largely in charge, Vale were coping not too badly and had until the 35th minute some prospect of getting something from the game. A cunningly weighted ball from the back by Stuart Anderson set Wood free through the middle. Beating any offside trap by outpacing Adams to reach the ball, his sights were locked onto goal as he charged forward pursued by Dunn who brought him down and was red carded for his pains. The following free kick was eventually cleared and Vale did what they could to re-organise their depleted resources and brought on Watt for Munro and held out until the interval.

United began the second period clearly intent on putting the game to bed as quickly as possible. Playing towards the village end they spread the ball about fast and wide and ramped up the pressure on 10 man Vale. MacPhee was turning some defenders and ghosting past others and repeatedly made or found good goal chances but was simply having one of those days where whatever he tried the fates were going to frustrate. Shots were deflected or very narrowly off target or charged down at the last second: he was simply having nae luck. One apparently net bound whizz bang from twenty odd yards was deflected for a corner on the left in the 51st minute. Greig took this and sneaking in at the back stick to put it nicely to bed was full back Stuart SMITH to reach 2-0.

Vale were not however finished yet and within 90 seconds of going two down pulled one back. It showed the talent in this young side as they produced the goal of the game to do so. Breaking from defence the ball was played into the area in front of the United box and partially cleared. NOBLE picked up, shuffled a step or two to set himself for a thunderous drive which he leathered from 25 yards out past the outstretched left hand of Main.

United were not in the business of letting Vale back into it and brought on the not so secret weapon of Conor Gethins five minutes later. He showed his phenomenal nose for a goal striking within a minute of taking the pitch. The ball was whipped in from the left by Greig to be headed downward across the goal line by MacPhee, before sharp as a tack, GETHINS gets down low to head the rebound over the line and into the net at the back stick for 3-1.

Vale were well on the back foot by now and a cracking drive from MacPhee, a good 30 yards out, smacked off the crossbar with Pennet apparently well beaten to add to their discomfort. The only point still at issue was how many more would Formartine score? The answer was only one that was as much a reflection of MacPhees run of bad luck than anything else. It came sub Ryan STOTT who, set up by the combined efforts of Lawrence and Norris, cracked the ball home from about 15 yards out not far from the left corner of the box with 4 minutes to go.

That was United through to the semis, to go into the hat with in alphabetical order: Brora, Cove and Wick. However, before then their next game is a league one – ironically against Deveronvale at home.

Match report by Colin Keenan



Photography by Ian Rennie

None.

Programme cover / Team sheet