Breedon Scottish Highland Football League, Formartine United v Fraserburgh, Friday 23rd December 2022

The visitors were first to show attacking intent when Ryan Sargent played the ball down the left to Scott Barbour, but Jonathan Crawford got back to block the Broch’s leading scorer’s effort. On 15 minutes Joe Barbour did well to thwart Julian Wade pulling off a good save from close range.

Sean Butcher got clear of his marker, but he could not divert his header on target from Barbour’s corner on 20 minutes. The away side did take the lead on 35 minutes when another Barbour corner was only cleared to Jamie Beagrie 16 yards out and he rifled the ball past Ewen Macdonald in the Formartine goal.

Just before the break Barbour’s in swinging corner from the left found Bryan Hay at the back post, but his effort was blocked, the ball was worked back to Barbour who crossed again, and this time William West headed over from close range.

Half Time: Formartine United 0 Fraserburgh 1

The Broch started where they left off and Sargent created a chance for Butcher only for Macdonald to save. On 56 minutes Crawford saw his header from Graeme Rodger’s cross drift wide, then Paul Young tried his luck from outside the box which dipped over the crossbar on the hour.

The home side were starting to exert some pressure and Joe Barbour did well to block Crawford’s shot from the edge of the box with his legs. At the other end a long ball forward found Sargent on the left, he flicked the ball onto Barbour, but Macdonald blocked once again.

As the match drifted towards the last 15 minutes both sides made changes to freshen things up, Logan Watt presented Young with a chance but the Broch midfielder sclaffed his shot straight at Macdonald. Aaron Norris went close for Formartine on 87 minutes seeing his close-range drive blocked.

Formartine kept pushing for an equaliser and Rodger fired in a shot from the edge of the box which just fizzed over the crossbar. In injury time Ryan Cowie and Connor Wood combined to set up Young, but his net bound curler was brilliantly tipped round the post by the Formartine keeper.

Full Time: Formartine United 0 Fraserburgh 1

Formartine United: Ewen Macdonald, Jonathan Crawford, Ryan Spink, Aaron Norris, Matthew McLean, Daniel Park (Kieran Adams 46), Julian Wade, Graeme Rodger, Scott Lisle (Cole Anderson 85), Mark Gallagher, Aidan Combe (Jack Maciver 75).
Subs not used: Stuart Smith, Danail Dimov, Murray Addison, Errol Watson.

Fraserburgh: Joe Barbour, Ross Aitken, William West, Bryan Hay, Kieran Simpson, Paul Young, Jamie Beagrie, Greg Buchan, Sean Butcher (Ryan Cowie 66), Ryan Sargent (Connor Wood 89), Scott Barbour (Logan Watt 76).
Subs not used: Josh Bolton, Zane Laird, Kyle Wood, Paul Leask.
Goalscorer: Jamie Beagrie (35).

Match Officials – Referee: Duncan Nicolson, Assistant Referees: Brian Fowlie & Daniel Donohoe.