Appearances & Goals To Date

Ewen MacDonald (GK)		51 apps	-
Jevan Anderson		21 apps	-
Craig McKeown		78 apps	16 goals
Johnny Crawford		84 apps	5 goals
Stuart Smith		182 apps	16 goals
Graeme Rodger		122 apps	39 goals
Paul Lawson		68 apps	19 goals
Archie MacPhee		29 apps	25 goals
Scott Barbour		115 apps	52 goals
Conor Gethins		55 apps	20 goals
Garry Wood		91 apps	49 goals
Calum Dingwall (sub)		130 apps	8 goals

Starting Lineup

Matchday Squad

First Team Debuts

Milestones

Few expected Formartine to lose this league game against much improved Rothes; fewer anticipated the scale of their eventual victory in a game where a strong, gusting wind raking the pitch from the Oldmeldrum end, played some part in the order of proceedings. While Rothes had it at their backs in the first half they remained in contention conceding only one goal and asking the odd question of their hosts in the process but when wind advantage turned Uniteds way, they cashed in significantly and rattled in four goals delivered by four different players. Despite losing left back Smith to a mid first half injury, the uber-versatile Dingwall proved a superb replacement contributing to a more or less faultless display by the back four and having the nous to set up the move that ended with what was probably the decisive goal.

The game started with United sensibly trying to keep the ball on the deck and build from the back but for the first fifteen minutes or thereby, notions of playing the ball about delicately amongst the rearguard gave way to a slightly more pragmatic and direct style when it was clear that wind was trumping finesse. Nevertheless they settled into a free flowing and high paced passing game and dominated possession. In these conditions, possession did not necessarily equate to territorial advantage and Rothes were astute enough to advance their defence as high as possible as often as possible attempting to squeeze the home side. They clearly had not come to sit back and go for damage limitation. In the third minute Kerr found his way between McKeown and Anderson (for the first and only time in the game) and rattled in a powerful 20 yarder that dipped fractionally too late to trouble MacDonald.

United, with better possession were the slicker outfit and began to stretch the visiting rearguard out wide as they probed and prodded down each flank and followed that up with powerful runs through the channels by Rodger and MacPhee, while Wood acted as a target and held up the ball well to release it for these advancing midfielders. The quicksilver Gethins popped up all over the place - wherever that predatory Irish proboscis picked up the slightest scent of a possible goal. United looked the more dangerous and were beginning to get balls into the box. A cross from Wood was marginally too early for the arrival of Rodger at the back stick and a lay off by Barbour to Gethins yielded a snatched shot that skewed up and over the bar from close range but in a very crowded patch near the keepers right upright.

Consistent with the run of play, United got their noses in front in the 19th minute. The move started fairly deep on the right as Crawford who was to be awarded sponsors Man of the Match broke forward from defence and carried the ball to somewhere shy of the halfway line before threading it on to Barbour whose jinking run took him past Maley and Milne before he whipped the ball over to the left side of the box where MacPHEE had it instantly under control, looked up, assessed the options and drilled the ball low past the right hand of McConnachie from ten yards out.

For all the effect this had on the scoreline it changed little of the pattern of play and although Rothes did little to seriously exercise MacDonald, they were well organised and with wind advantage did plenty to occupy the home back four. However that line up of Crawford, Smith (Dingwall from the 31st minute), McKeown and Anderson simply gave hee haw away and it was hard to see a way past them for the visitors.

The change of ends fundamentally changed the course of the game. With the wind at their backs United ratcheted up the pressure from the first whistle. Rothes had a token wee flurry early doors after a longish range effort by Moore brought a smart diving save from MacDonald but Moore was dispossessed by Crawford and Davidson by Anderson and that was that. Once the attack had been successfully dismantled, Dingwall having picked the pocket of Davidson, found himself with the ball and a bit of space near the left corner of his box. Advancing thirty yards or so he threaded the ball to Wood who utterly suckered Milne and Rennie to collect the ball twenty yards nearer goal on the other side of them. Thereafter, he delivered a vicious curling ball to a position beyond the back stick. GETHINS was in like an electrified ferret to lash the ball high into the net for 2-0.

A minute later (in the 49th) the wee Irishman drew a top drawer save as McConnachie touched a ferocious drive away from the postage stamp corner. Formartine were now looking unstoppable and with places at stake for the 4th round William Hill Scottish Cup game with Cove everyone wanted to be seen in their best light. This was really a bit much for Rothes and the Formartine goal machine clicked into well greased action. RODGER was the next to get onto the score sheet. His direct and forceful running was causing more and more trouble for those unfortunate enough to attempt to mark him. Maley and Fraser had no chance when he finished a move that he had started when he banged the ball past McConnachie from a dozen or so yards out in the 78th minute.

5 minutes after that came an obvious candidate for Goal of the Season as the immaculate MacPHEE doubled his tally. In space and fairly central, way out from goal - nearer the centre circle than penalty box he spotted the keeper just a tad off of his line and delivered an impeccable but outrageously impudent lob that managed to travel high enough to beat the reach of the keeper and drop enough to get below the crossbar and into the net. He saw the chance and took it – nae fluke about it - he made the ball do exactly what he wanted it to.

Four goals to the good and with that as the finale – United could have stopped there but there was another piece of unfinished business. Barbour had been blowing a little hot and cold – he had made a number of decent runs on the flanks but two or three times when one on one with the keeper the killer touch had deserted him. In the last minute he again got into the box one on one with McConnachie. Coming in from the left side of the box the keeper advanced and narrowed the angles significantly. This time Fig got round him and from a tightish angle squeezed the ball home for number 5.

Management could not have hoped for a better performance in the run up to the midweek battle against Cove for a tilt at Falkirk in Round 5 of the William Hill Scottish Cup. There are some injury worries - captain Stewart Anderson, centre back Henry and midfielder Scott Ferries are almost certain non starters and the withdrawal of Stuart Smith in the first half raises some doubt about him too, but the standard of performance says something about the depth and quality of the present squad.

Match report by Colin Keenan