GPH Aberdeenshire League. Monday 2nd October 2023, North Lodge .
Formartine United U21’s 4
Scorers: Brody Alberts (4, 55), Aaron Angus (50), Arron Buckle (85).
Turriff United U21’s 3
Scorers: Archie Gibson (37), Aryla Abolfati (41), Steve Livingstone (80).
Formartine United’s youngsters came out on top in an enthralling encounter at North Lodge on Monday evening, edging out their more experienced Turriff counterparts by an odd goal in seven.
It was the visitors that started brighter earning a couple of early corner. Indeed it was after the second corner that Formartine broke and scored the opener. Richardson dispossessed Fatona in midfield allowing Tom Ward to break down the left, feeding the ball into Brody ALBERTS who calmly stoked the ball pas the advancing Findlay from the edge of the box in the 4th minute.
The next half hour saw a keenly contested game with both sides seeing chances missed. Turriff’s created the clearer of these opportunities with veteran goalscorer Neil Gauld coming closest with a 6th minute effort being tipped into the bar by Ritchie in the Formartine goal. Turriff full back Fatona had a 20 yard effort just over, and Gauld, once again, just failed to convert at the back post. On the 37th minute Turriff eventually equalised when a Fatona slipped in GIBSON who evaded Proctor and curled the ball in from a tight angle with the outside of his right foot.
Formartine almost regained the lead on 40 minutes. Once again it was a breakaway with Alberts running the length of the pitch before delivering a pin point cross for Ward to narrowly head wide of the target. A minute later the visitors took the lead when Gibson dispossessed the Formartine defence at the corner flag, finding McKeown, who’s deep cross found ABOLFATHI who’s powerful downward header beat Ritchie from six yards.
A Johnny Crawford half time pep talk saw Formartine start the brighter in the second half, scoring a quick fire double in the 50th and the 55th minute. First Aaron ANGUS equalised after Richardson and half time substitute Watson worked their way down the left side. Alberts dummied Watson’s pass with Angus quickest to react to slide the ball past Findlay from 8 yards. Five minutes later Richardson was upended on the edge of the Turriff box. Brody ALBERTS stepped up to drive the ball past the wall and Findlay into the corner of the net. Richardson was then denied by the bar just after the hour mark with a near 30 yard curling effort.
Turriff pulled back to level terms on 80 minutes after LIVINGSTONE was left unmarked at the back post after Gauld flicked on a Cormack pass from the edge of the box. Formartine weren’t to be denied. In the 85th minute a Watson effort from the edge of the box was deflected, the ball was only partially cleared by Cormack with the ball falling to Arron BUCKLE 18 yards out. The midfielders shot was deflected leaving Findlay in the Turra goal with no chance.
The win puts the Under 21’s in third place in the GPH Aberdeenshire League, three points off Fraserburgh in top spot with a game in hand and two points behind Turriff. Next up for the 21’s is a trip to Stonehaven’s Gelnury Park on Monday 16th October. Brody Alberts double takes him onto 4 for the season with the 21’s with Kooper Richardson and Jake Stewart on 3 goals apiece and Mitchel Watson on 2 goals.
Formartine United Team: 1. Jake Stewart, 2. Aaron Angus, 3. Josh Proctor, 4. Grant Moroney ©, 5. Lucas Smith, 6. Scott Spark (12. Brenden Beaton 75 min), 7. Tom Ward (Sam Thompson 89 min), 8. Aaron Buckle, 9. Brody Alberts, 10.Kooper Richardson, 11. Arron Paterson (17. Mitchel Watson 46 min). Unused Subs: 15. Tome Nadji, 16. Nathan Burnett, 21. Archie Mackay.