Fraserburgh F.C.

Recap

Breedon Scottish Highland Football League, Fraserburgh v Deveronvale, Saturday 23rd July 2022

The Broch got off to a winning start in defence of their Highland League title. Once the formalities of the presentation and raising of the 2021-22 Highland League flag had taken place, Deveronvale players formed a guard of honour to greet the Fraserburgh players before the start of the game.

Scott Barbour, the Highland League’s top scorer last season, was in early mood to open his account in the first few minutes curling a shot just wide and the being thwarted by Sean McIntosh twice in the space of a minute. The vale keeper did well to save a Ryan Sargent header from Aidan Combe’s cross but he could do nothing on 5 minutes when a Scott Barbour corner from the left was headed home by Sean Butcher from six yards.

Three minutes later Combe should have made it two after Barbour found him in space but McIntosh blocked the effort with his legs. The second goal was only delayed a meter of minutes as Barbour and Butcher combined to set up Sargent who drilled the ball home from just inside the penalty area. Midway through the first half Logan Watt released Ross Aitken on the right but after rounding the keeper his shot was cleared for a corner.

On 25 minutes Willie West found space inside the area but a combination of McIntosh and a Vale defender did well to block the Broch captain’s effort. Five minutes before the break Barbour won a free kick just outside the penalty area and up stepped Kieran Simpson to fire in a drive which cannoned off the post. A minute before the interval a Barbour free kick was nodded back across goal by Bryan Hay to Butcher but he saw his goal bound header saved. From the resultant corner Simpson saw his header cleared off the line.

Half Time: Fraserburgh 2 Deveronvale 0

The home side picked up where they left off with Barbour crossing to the back post but Butcher headed just over. Vale’s first real chance of the game came on 52 minutes when Caiden Imbert-Thomas crossed from the right but Dane Ballard’s header went wide of the far upright. Barbour then sent Watt clear but once again the Vale keeper was out smartly to block the shot. On 55 minutes Watt cut the ball back from the bye line but Butcher could only find the side-netting with his effort.

Midway through the second half Aaron Hamilton was booked for a late tackle on Watt. Simpson strode up to rifle in another long range free kick which McIntosh did well to beat away. Sargent then ghosted past Jaydan Bradford to set up Barbour, but the Broch striker was denied by a last ditch block.

With 19 minutes remaining the home side finally made all three points safe when Simpson’s long diagonal ball to the left found Sargent and he crossed for Barbour to thump the ball home. Kyle MacKillop-Hall fired a shot over for the visitors and home substitute Jordan Guild had a shot saved by McIntosh as the game drifted towards a conclusion.

Full Time: Fraserburgh 3 Deveronvale 0

Fraserburgh: Joe Barbour, Ross Aitken, William West, Bryan Hay, Kieran Simpson, Paul Young, Logan Watt (Jordan Guild 84), Aidan Combe (Jamie Beagrie 69), Sean Butcher (Paul Campbell 69), Ryan Sargent, Scott Barbour.
Sub not used: Jamie Maclellan, Zane Laird, Connor Grant, Paul Leask.
Goalscorers: Sean Butcher (5), Ryan Sargent (11), Scott Barbour (71)

Deveronvale: Sean McIntosh, Jaydan Bradford (Jayden Goldie 78), Harry Noble, Oluwaseun Bashua, Innes McKay, Aaron Hamilton, Horace Ormsby, Max Stewart, Dane Ballard, Caiden Imbert-Thomas, Jamie Tinnock (Kyle-MacKillop-Hall 62).
Subs not used: Cameron Angus, Michael Watson, Antonio Jam, Robert Scott, Jamie Shingler.

Match Officials – Referee: Joel Kennedy, Assistant Referees: Christopher De Sykes & Brian Fowlie.