Breedon Scottish Highland Football League, Strathspey Thistle v Fraserburgh, Saturday 20th August 2022

The Broch included new signing Connor Wood in the starting line-up and he combined well with Scott Barbour after two minutes to set up Sean Butcher who fired wide of goal. Five minutes later Wood was on hand to tap home from close range after Barbour flicked on a long ball forward to Paul Campbell who crossed to set up the opener. Within a minute it was 2-0 when Campbell picked out Wood at the far post, he nodded the ball back to Barbour to head home.

A third goal arrived midway through the half when William West headed the ball behind the Strathspey defence and Barbour ran onto the pass before lobbing Michael Maccallum in the home goal. On 32 minutes Butcher flicked the ball onto Aidan Combe but his shot was brilliantly tipped over the crossbar by Maccallum. Two minutes later he could do nothing to prevent Butcher scoring with a spectacular half volley after being teed up by Campbell.

The Broch were denied a fifth on 40 minutes when Ross Aitken burst through only to see his shot blocked, Butcher then laid the ball off to Barbour but the home keeper did well to save his effort. James Fraser was then booked for a foul on Campbell and the half ended with Butcher heading against the crossbar after Wood’s cross wasn’t fully cleared by the Strathspey defence.

Half Time: Strathspey Thistle 0 Fraserburgh 4

The visitors went in search of more goals and went close on three occasions before the hour mark. First Ryan Cowie picked out Butcher who headed just wide. Wood then picked the ball up on the left before driving forward and cutting inside the full back only to fire wide of the far post. Aitken then found Campbell on the right and his cross was just out of the reach of Barbour sliding in at the back post.

On 63 minutes Barbour completed his hat-trick firing home after turning his marker. Cowie then went on a charging run and his cross was only half cleared to Logan Watt who shot side. The Broch made several changes with Ryan Sargent coming on and firing in a shot which was blocked, Campbell fired in the rebound which clipped the top of the crossbar. West then played a long ball forward on 75 minutes which Sargent flicked onto Campbell who rounded the keeper and rolled the ball home.

A couple of minutes later Cowie freed Zane Laird on the left and he drove into the box before firing a shot across Maccallum and into the bottom corner. Chances came and went for the Broch with Watt bursting clear only to see his shot blocked and Laird’s cross was headed over by Campbell. Laird then latched onto a through ball and when the rebound fell to Sargent his shot cannoned off the post.

With three minutes remaining West got in on the scoring act heading home a Sargent cross. Sargent then got a deserved goal when he latched onto Campbell’s flick and drove the ball home. West was then denied a second in the final minute when Maccallum pulled off a great save from a header after Cowie’s cross into the box.

Full Time: Strathspey Thistle 0 Fraserburgh 9

Strathspey Thistle: Michael Maccallum, James Fraser (Thomas McInnes 55), Liam McDade, Liam Grant, Owen Loveland, Joe Cuthbert, Jack Davison (Jordan Shaw 74), Alan Kerr (Jack Wardrop 74), Owen Paterson, Liam Taylor, Jack Gilliland.
Subs not used: Oliver Kelly.

Fraserburgh: Joe Barbour, Bryan Hay, Ryan Cowie, Paul Young, William West, Paul Campbell, Scott Barbour (Ryan Sargent 65), Logan Watt, Sean Butcher (Aidan Combe 70), Connor Wood (Zane Laird 70), Ross Aitken.
Subs not used: Lewis Davidson, Kieran Simpson, Sam Inglis.
Goalscorers: Connor Wood (7), Scott Barbour (8, 23 & 63), Sean Butcher (34), Paul Campbell (75), Zane Laird (77), William West (87), Ryan Sargent (88).

Match Officials: Referee: Gordon Seago, Assistant Referees: John Nicolson & Andy Bannerman.