SPFL Trust Trophy 1st Round, Fraserburgh v St. Johnstone B, Tuesday 9th August 2022

St. Johnstone made the journey north to face Fraserburgh in the SPFL Trust Trophy with a squad made up of largely development players and, under the rules of the competition, two overage players. The Broch were on the attack first when Ross Aitken swung in a dangerous cross for Sean Butcher, however his shot didn’t trouble Jack Wills in the Saints goal.

On 11 minutes a free kick on the left four a foul on Aidan Combe by Bobby Dailly, son of ex Scotland International Christian, was curled in by Logan Watt and beaten away by Wills. Maksym Kucheriavyi then tried his luck with a shot from outside the box but Paul Leask made a comfortable save.

The Broch keeper was called into action again on 22 minutes this time doing well to thwart Taylor Steven from 8 yards out. He could do nothing on 34 minutes however when a good move involving several visiting players ended with Bailey Pert curling a shot high past Leask into the top left corner. Just before the break Butcher flicked the ball onto Combe and his cross was headed towards goal by Zane Laird into the waiting arms of Wills.

Half Time: Fraserburgh 0 St Johnstone B 1

The early exchanges in the second half saw neither team create any clear-cut chances, with Sean Butcher going into the referee’s book for a late challenge. Midway through the half Steven fired in a vicious strike from the left corner of the penalty area which Leask did well to tip over the crossbar. A minute later he was on hand again to tip the ball over as Kucheriavyi crossed for Pert’s header.

The Broch made further changes as they searched for an equaliser but it was the Saints who extended their lead on 70 minutes when a through ball by Kucheriavyi found Steven who calmly rolled the ball past Leask. With six minutes remaining Scott Murison was shown a straight red card for an off the ball incident.

Full Time: Fraserburgh 0 St Johnstone B 2

Fraserburgh: Paul Leask, Scott Murison, Ross Aitken, Kyle Wood (William West 69), Kieran Simpson, Jamie Maclellan (Paul Young 58), Logan Watt (Scott Barbour 58), Jordan Guild, Aidan Combe (Ryan Sargent 69), Sean Butcher, Zane Laird (Paul Campbell 69).
Sub not used: Bryan Hay, Joe Barbour.

St Johnstone B: Jack Wills, John Moreland, Scott Bright, Bobby Dailly, Liam Parker, Liam Gordon, Maksym Kucheriavyi, William Sandford, Taylor Steven, Charlie Gilmour, Bailey Pert.
Sub not used: Joe Ellison, Kodi McKinstray, Adam McMillan, Kyle Scott.
Goalscorers: Bailey Pert (34), Taylor Steven (70).

Match Officials – Referee: Alex Shepherd, Assistant Referees: Gordon Crawford & Paul McAvinue.