Breedon Scottish Highland Football League

Saturday 16th November 2024

Formartine United 1 Clachnacuddin 0

Scorer: Marc Lawrence (17)

This tie between two teams both in the top third of the table with but a point between them at kick off was on the face of it heading to be a close run thing. It turned out to be just that with Formartine having the better of the first 45 minutes and the visitors pushing hard throughout the second session to get back on level terms. They came close but United on the back foot for a protracted period, managed, some might say by the skin of their teeth, to do just enough to lift three points, and leap frog a place above the visitors in the table.

A cold day with bitter squally showers gave way to even colder but drier conditions for the duration of the game. United were without talismanic forward Julian [“Ju Ju”] Wade absent on international duty for Dominica in warmer climes. They were also without centre half Matty Maclean for this one as well as left back Luke Strachan grandson of the famous Gordon of that ilk.

For several years until this season began under the new management of Connor Gethins, Clachnacuddin had inhabited the nether regions of the league and were a team that Formartine were usually expected to beat. Since the cheeky wee Ulsterman took up his post he has radically refreshed the Clach squad and taken some notable scalps in the process of setting out their credentials as one of league’s top end teams.

This game began with them demonstrating their attacking credentials as early as the third minute when a break on the right side spearheaded by Macphee stretched the home defence as the attacker struck a vicious curling ball from the right corner of the box that none of the defenders could get anything on but which was inches ahead of the advancing Davidson and Macleod as it fizzed bast the base of Macdonald’s right upright. If United needed any reminder of the new look Clach, this was it. They were dangerous and United could see the need to fight fire with fire and began to force the pace in winning a good share of second balls and in the process establishing some territorial advantage in attacking the village end goal. Ward and Mykyta were the principal threats but whenever either got on the ball they were immediately challenged.

However United’s commitment to attack was soon rewarded: Mykyta had made some space for himself to the left of the 18 yard box and hammered the ball over the goal face. Malin got a hand to it but could not hold the ball which was deflected towards Marc LAWRENCE who was attacking the back post area and rammed the ball home from close range.

This 17th minute opener was fitting reward for United’s commitment to attack and for a while it looked like it could be a foundation for more and United entered their best phase of the game. They never got the length of completely dominating proceedings but their spells of possession and attack were longer and more frequent than those of the opposition. The one notable exception to this was in 40th minute when a dangerous attack started from deep in their own half was completed by Clach’s Macphee letting fire from 6 yards out producing a superb double save as Macdonald blocked the shot and beat away the return of the rebound, Immediately before the break a Mykyta cross was headed over from close range by Campbell.

The second half was largely comprised of a grim but absorbing midfield battle where neither side managed to develop enough of an edge over the other to force significant action from either keeper. Clach managed territorial advantage for sustained periods but lacked penetration. As time passed they tried more from distance but with the exception of one fizzing drive by Davidson from about twenty yards out wide on the right that crashed off the crossbar Formartine held out with good shape, decent defending and superb midfield graft from Rodger and Lawrence. Clach frustration began to rise in the later stages; evidenced in some of their tackling which showed it and Macleod, the most persistent offender, was dismissed in the 80th minute.

That all but assured that United would hold their lead until the end. They did.

Formartine United Team: Ewen Macdonald, Johnny Crawford, Stuart Smith, Rhys Thomas, Lewis Wilson, Marc Lawrence, Tyler Mykyta [Kieran Lawrence 80], Graeme Rodger, Paul Campbell [Scott Adams 80], Robert Ward [Aidan Combe 80], Aaron Norris. Unused Subs:  Kieran Adams, Sam Thomson, Branden Beaton, Cameron Middleton GK.

Clachnacuddin Team: Malin, Cormack, Bray [Lawrie 85], Nicholson, Gilles, Macrae, Macphee [Mackenzie 62], Cooper [Davison 85], Davidson [Anderson 62] Macleod, Kerr. Unused Subs: Rae (GK), Meekings, Mackay, Adams, Gethins.