Fraserburgh F.C.

Recap

Mechanics engineer late comeback to stun Broch

An injury hit Broch were pegged back by a spirited Forres side which saw the home side drop their first League points of the season. Despite missing 9 first team players the Broch twice held a two goal lead thanks to Paul Campbell’s first half brace and Sean Butcher’s counter just after the break which sandwiched Andrew Macrae’s first for the visitors. However two goals in the last 20 minutes from Andrew Macrae and Aaron Hamilton saw Forres pick up an unlikely point.

The Broch made one enforced change from Wednesday night’s triumphant exertions at Buckie with Bryan Hay coming in for his first start of the season to replace the suspended Michael Rae. This meant Jamie Beagrie was pushed forward into a central midfield position to allow Bryan Hay to take up his normal position at the heart of the defence.

The visitors started the game on the front foot with Andrew Macrae seeing his shot on the turn from the edge of the box comfortably saved by Paul Leask. On six minutes the ball was worked inside to Jordan Milne but his low drive was off target. Four minutes later Aaron Hamilton headed wide from a good position.

The Broch finally worked their way into the game and on 20 minutes Greg Buchan fed Scott Barbour at the edge of the box and he drove wide to the left side of the area before firing a low shot across the keeper but just wide of the far post. A minute later the Broch took the lead when Paul Campbell’s looping shot drifted into the top corner.

On 25 minutes Scott Barbour and Sean Butcher combined to set up Paul Campbell but as he took a touch into the penalty area the ball just ran away from him into the grateful arms of Stuart Knight in the visitor’s goal. On the half hour another good move on the left involving Greg Buchan, Sean Butcher and Paul Campbell ended with a cross to the back post which was met by William West but his shot was deflected wide.

A minute later a short corner by Greg Buchan to Scott Barbour saw the initial cross blocked but Bryan Hay retrieved possession and laid it off to Paul Campbell who hammered a raking drive high past Stuart Knight into the net to double the Broch’s lead. Forres pulled one back on 34 minutes when Jordan Milne’s slide rule pass allowed Andrew Macrae to poke the ball past the onrushing Paul Leask.

The Broch goal had an amazing escape on 36 minutes when Andrew Macrae wriggled free inside the area and saw his first effort saved by Paul Leask, the ball broke back to the Forres midfielder and he teed up Aaron Hamilton who thought he had levelled the score only to see William West pop up to head his net bound effort off the line.

Half Time: Fraserburgh 2 Forres Mechanics 1

The Broch restored their two goal lead seven minutes after the break when Sean Butcher was on hand to side foot the ball home from close range. A minute later and they thought they had stretched their lead further when Sean Butcher saw his initial effort blocked but as the ball broke towards the by-line he was able to cross it into the six yard box for Scott Barbour to sweep the ball home. Much to the home side’s anger the stand side assistant raised his flag to indicate offside against the Broch striker.

It was Forres’ turn to direct their ire at the far side assistant on 58 minutes when the ball broke fortuitously to Aaron Hamilton off Andrew Macrae and he curled the ball past Paul Leask into the bottom corner only to see the flag raised for offside. Amazingly the home side had another goal chalked off a minute later when Greg Buchan pulled the ball back to Paul Campbell whose shanked shot fell to the feet of Scott Barbour who forced the ball home again from an offside position.

Just after the hour Paul Campbell’s cross into the Forres penalty area was only half cleared and Paul Young nodded the ball back in to Sean Butcher who flicked the ball just over the crossbar. On 66 minutes Greg Buchan crossed to the back post from the right but Scott Barbour could only head the ball against the post from a difficult angle. It was to prove a turning point as five minutes later a poor kick out by Paul Leask was latched onto by Jordan Milne who played in Andrew Macrae to round the Broch keeper and roll the ball into the empty net.

The home side made a couple of substitutions on 75 minutes and a minute later Luke Barbour who was just on the pitch saw his 25 yarder well saved by Stuart Knight. On 82 minutes Scott Barbour crossed for Paul Campbell but his shot was deflected wide. Forres equalised with three minutes remaining when Simon Allan swung in a cross and Aaron Hamilton got ahead of his marker to thump a header past Paul Leask.

Full Time: Fraserburgh 3 Forres Mechanics 3

Forres Mechanics: Stuart Knight, James Ross, Simon Allan, Graham Fraser, Andrew Macrae, Jordan Milne, Robert Duncanson, Aaron Hamilton, Owen Paterson (Ross MacPherson 77), Joe Gauld (Logan Ward 84), Calum Howarth.
Subs not used: Craig Ellis, Stuart Soane, Jamie Brown.
Goalscorers: Andrew Macrae (34 & 71), Aaron Hamilton (87).

Match Officials: Referee: Harry Bruce, Assistant Referees: Andrew Bannerman & Daniel Donohoe.