Scottish FA Cup 3rd Round, Fraserburgh v Arbroath, Saturday 26th November 2022

The Broch started their Scottish Cup 3rd round match against Arbroath brightly with Scott Barbour putting in a dangerous cross into the visitor’s area which found Sean Butcher at the near post, but he sent his effort wide of the post.

The home side continued to press their higher league opponents and Barbour raced clear of a static defence past keeper Derek Gaston and his net bound shot from an acute angle was cleared off the line by Richard Little, the rebound fell to Lewis Davidson, and he saw his shot from the edge of the box headed clear by Scott Bitsindou.

On 13 minutes Barbour went close again with Gaston doing well to tip over the Broch striker’s effort. Two minutes later Arbroath posed their first serious threat when Little saw his shot blocked. On 17 minutes the visitors took the lead when Scott Allan threaded the ball through to Robert Linn who took the ball in stride before curling a shot past Joe Barbour.

Seven minutes before the break Marcel Oakley set up Michael McKenna but he could only screw the ball past the far post under pressure from Kieran Simpson. Two minutes later Ross Aitken was booked for a challenge on Allan.

Half Time: Fraserburgh 0 Arbroath 1

Arbroath took control after the break and on 53 minutes Linn should have done better when released on the left, but his shot slipped past Barbour’s far post. Bryan Hay was yellow carded for simulation inside the visitor’s box and at the other end McKenna fired in a shot which just cleared the crossbar.

Both sides made a number of substitutions as the match entered the final quarter. On 84 minutes Paul Young could not get enough purchase on a shot and it went tamely wide. Three minutes later Paul Campbell and Barbour combined on the left and the ball found its way to Connor Wood who managed to get a shot on the turn which Gaston did well to save.

As the Broch pushed forward for an equaliser Arbroath broke away with a long ball in behind the home defence and Linn slotted the ball past Barbour into the net. He almost netted again in injury time when Gaston’s long clearance found him in space but this time the Arbroath sharpshooter slid the ball past the post.

Full Time: Fraserburgh 0 Arbroath 2

Fraserburgh: Joe Barbour, Lewis Davidson (Paul Campbell 69), Bryan Hay, Kieran Simpson, Paul Young, William West, Scott Barbour, Greg Buchan, Sean Butcher (Connor Wood 78), Ryan Sargent (Logan Watt 69), Ross Aitken.
Sub not used: Callum Kelly, Zane Laird, Kyle Wood, Paul Leask.

Arbroath: Derek Gaston, Marcel Oakley, Colin Hamilton, Richard Little, Thomas O’Brien, David Gold (Kieran Shanks 80), Michael McKenna, Scott Bitsindou, Scott Allan (Deri Corfe 75), Florent Hoti (Dylan Tait 69), Robert Linn.
Subs not used: Kareem Isiaka, Daniel Fosu, Cameron Gill.
Goalscorer: Robert Linn (17 & 88).

Match Officials – Referee: Calum Scott, Assistant Referees: Douglas Ross & Elliott Husband Powton.

Scottish FA Cup 2nd Round, Fraserburgh v Stranraer, Saturday 22nd October 2022

Stranraer made the long haul north for the Scottish Cup second round match and almost fell behind early on when Paul Campbell’s long throw broke to Kieran Simpson who saw his shot blocked. The reprieve only lasted a minute though, Greg Buchan chased down a backpass to Luke Scullion and as the Stranraer keeper dallied the Broch midfielder nipped in to poke the ball into an empty net.

The visitors responded on 9 minutes when James Hilton got on the end of a cross only to see his header flash wide. Paul Woods then went on a driving run two minutes later before shooting wide of Joe Barbour’s far post. Sean McIntosh was next to try his luck but he screwed his shot wide after getting the break of the ball.

On 14 minutes Scott McLean managed to wriggle free inside the box but Barbour did well to hold onto the striker’s shot. Stranraer levelled on 21 minutes when Woods free kick was nodded home by Kyle Girvan. Scott Barbour tried his luck from a free kick but shot well over, whilst Sam Ellis and Anthony Brady has their names taken for fouls on Campbell

Half Time: Fraserburgh 1 Stranraer 1

Six minutes into the second half McLean latched onto a through ball but Barbour was out smartly to block the forward’s effort. On 57 minutes Bellslea went wild when a defensive clearance found Barbour on the left, he played the ball into Connor Wood who took his time and swept the ball past Scullion with a composed finish to restore the Broch’s lead.

Campbell was booked for a foul on Girvan and Stranraer made several substitutions to try and change the game. Sean Butcher saw a header from Barbour’s corner cleared away on 72 minutes and a minute later he was yellow carded for a foul. Matthew Grant swung in a dangerous cross and Salim Kouider-Aissa made good contact but Barbour was in the right position to claw the ball away.

Logan Watt who had only just replaced Butcher was booked for pulling back a Stranraer player on 83 minutes. The visitors were frantically looking for an equaliser but Barbour pulled off a magnificent save on 83 minutes to tip over a 25 yarder from Ellis. Stranraer had one last chance with three minutes remaining but Kouider-Aissa headed wide and the Broch held on to record a famous victory.

Full Time: Fraserburgh 2 Stranraer 1

Fraserburgh: Joe Barbour, Bryan Hay, Kieran Simpson, Paul Young, William West, Paul Campbell, Scott Barbour (Callum Kelly 90), Connor Wood (Zane Laird 86), Greg Buchan, Sean Butcher (Logan Watt 76), Ross Aitken.
Sub not used: Lewis Davidson, Kyle Wood, Paul Leask.
Goalscorers: Greg Buchan (6), Connor Wood (57).

Stranraer: Luke Scullion, Scott Robertson, Sam Ellis, Kyle Girvan, Anthony Brady (Grant Gallagher 71), James Hilton (Josh Walker 61), Paul Woods, Dean Hawkshaw (Salim Kouider-Aissa 61), Scott McLean (Matthew Grant 61), Dylan Forrest, Sean McIntosh.
Subs not used: George O’Connor, Luke Watt, Ikechi Eze.
Goalscorer: Kyle Girvan (21).

Match Officials – Referee: Alastair Grieve, Assistant Referees: Scott Leslie & Lewis Brown.