THIS was a rather stuttering and less than fully convincing performance by Formartine as they continue their ascent of SHFL.
For two spells of about ten to 15 minutes early and late in the first half they looked quite impressive as they maintaine
d a quick tempo passing game which the Cattachs had little capacity to counter. For the rest of the game they were a disjointed outfit that were competently matched by an energetic a well drilled group of youngsters anchored in midfield by the still very quick footed veteran Gary Farquhar.
This was the first instalment of a double header and on this showing it is by no means certain that Formartine will bring back the bacon from the second at Dudgeon Park on Saturday (December 5).
Initially Formartine looked the part, swinging the ball about easily, poking and probing for openings and generally having the lion's share of possession and territory.
Brora were lively enough but despite trickery from Lamont and some rather cynical defending by Christie, Formartine were odds on to open the scoring. With a strike force of Coull and McKay supported by Somers and Bagshaw, they certainly had the personnel with which to wreak havoc.
Coull was fed by Marc Young and twisting and turning completely flummoxed McKie before hitting the ball hard, low and diagonally across the goal face but it flashed inches in front of the right foot of the advancing McKay.
Winter had a long rage effort that rebounded from a defensive phalanx of Begg, Neil and Christie and at this early stage, Formartine were in clear control.
It took only until the eighth minute for the pressure to find its reward. Couller was tormenting the visiting rearguard and clipped one low past Christie that rebounded off Neill. The predatory Somers was onto it in a flash and forced the ball home from a few yards out.
Formartine initially sustained their pressure. Winter's distribution from the centre was bringing the front pair into it and Young on the flank was likewise a decent source of supply. It was looking good for Formartine but it all slowly started to fade.
Lamont and Baxter are a quick and tricky pair with a decent understanding of each other's play and with the guile of Farquhar they managed bit by bit to ease the pressure on their defence with telling little forays into home territory.
A break by Lamont produced an excellent diagonal crossfield pass into the path of McKie who floated the ball into Cameron who got in a decent, accurate header that was competently dealt with by Gray.
There was a sense that the visitors were beginning to gain a bit of belief and for all that Formartine could swing the ball about they didn't really show the penetration their earlier possession suggested.
In 24 minutes the treacherous underfoot conditions almost let the visitors back on level terms. A pass back by Simpson to Gray took longer than intended to reach its destination and the pacy Cameron got close in on the keeper who struggled to clear. With the goal at his mercy the forward was deemed to have taken illegal advantage of the keeper and the chance was gone.
At the other end Coull went close with a diving header that slid just wide. In the 32nd minute, Winter flipped a clever diagonal over the top ball into the path of McKay. He whipped the ball across the goal face but it was just too deep for Bagshaw and the ever present Somers.
Two minutes before half time Formartine got a crucial second. A minor infringement by Begg, 28 yards out gave Somers a free crack at goal.
He struck the ball swerving past the edge of the wall and dipping late before sandblasting the underside of the junction of upright and bar on its way into the net.
The two goal cushion was enough for Formartine to ride out the second half but their journey was not pretty nor was it comfortable. For long periods the visitors gave an excellent account of themselves and played like they believed they could salvage something from it. They began to dominate possession and gain the upper hand in midfield.
Farquhar has perfected the art of making the ball do the work and although never travelling a yard more than necessary kept up a steady supply to the perky pair of Baxter and Lamont. Although in general terms the Formartine back four of Irvine, McGuire Simpson and Graham were fit for them it was noticeable that Gray was the busier keeper.
Formartine were still dangerous on the break but were by this stage playing more like a visiting side than the home team and relying more and more on breakaways.
Heavy squally showers and a very heavy pitch created the conditions where mistakes were going to be made. This in its way maintained spectator interest in a game which otherwise was getting mired in the dubby conditions.
A Formartine breakaway in the 53rd minute saw McKay clear at the right corner flag he worked his way along the byeline and in towards the box but still could barely work enough of angle to get in the shot. When he did eventually manage to squeeze one in it found the side netting.
At the other end a Fraser drive was deflected enough for Gray to have to earn his corn with a good diving save. In the 62nd it should have all been done and dusted when Formartine gained a rather soft looking penalty for an apparent nudge on Mackay as he broke into the box.
Brora protests were well orchestrated as players took it in turn to question the ref and managed to delay its being taken by a good couple of minutes thereby increasing the pressure on the taker.
With two on the score sheet – it had to be Somers to take it. Having had so long to contemplate the act he contrived to blast the ball well over the top.
Brora belief rose and they maintained the pressure. In the 86th minute they got a sniff of salvation when the wily Farquhar got onto rebounding shot from Baxter and from near the penalty spot slotted the ball home.
If this looked like it would energise the visitors it curiously seemed to have more effect on Formartine who then suddenly started to turn it on again. The remaining four minutes of ordinary time and the same again of stoppage were occupied by incessant Formartine attack as they regained the fluency they had shown for parts of the first half.
If they could have shown this form and fluency throughout then the scoreline would have been significantly different. Why they come to switch it on and off in such an erratic manner is a bit of a mystery.
Formartine United: Gray, Irvine, McGuire, Simpson, Graham, Mackay Somers, Winter, Young, Bagshaw, Coull. Subs: R. Maitland, Shinnie, Fyfe, MacAskill, A. Maitland.
Brora Rangers: MacCallum, McKie, Christie, Begg, MacAngus, Fraser, Farquhar, Baxter, Lamont, Cameron. Subs: McIntosh, Tillman, Mackay, Murray, Bell.
