Haddington Athletic 1 - 2 Formartine United

Scottish Cup - 1st Round - Behind Closed Doors
Saturday, December 26th, 2020, 3:00 PM at Millfield Park, Haddington
Referee: Daniel Graves
Haddington Athletic v Formartine United, Dec 26th 2020, Millfield Park, Haddington
Haddington Athletic Formartine United 

Goalscorers
Stewart o Neill (88) Stuart Smith (49)
Scott Lisle (90)

Team Managers
Joe Hamill Paul Lawson

Starting Eleven
Dale Cornet
Aaron Congalton
Seamus Russell
Ross King
Gordon Harris
Ben Finnan
Shaun Hill
Gabriele Auriemma
Ryan Hutchison
Alasdair Simpson
Keith Lough
Kevin Main
Craig McKeown
Johnny Crawford
Darryn Kelly
Stuart Smith
Stuart Anderson
Graeme Rodger
Daniel Park
Jonathan Smith
Kieran Lawrence
Garry Wood

Bench
Andrew McNeill
Jack Neilson
Harvey Thomson
Robbie King
Anes Subasic
Stewart o Neill
Robbie Stirling
Ewen MacDonald
Michael Clark
Andrew Greig
Cole Anderson
Aaron Norris
Conor Gethins
Scott Lisle

Substitutions
Stewart o Neill for Keith Lough (54)
Andrew McNeill for Ben Finnan (62)
Robbie King for Ryan Hutchison (84)
Scott Lisle for Garry Wood (66)
Aaron Norris for Kieran Lawrence (66)
Conor Gethins for Jonathan Smith (78)

Bookings
Aaron Congalton (90) Johnny Crawford (46)
Graeme Rodger (51)

Red Cards
None. None.

Appearances & Goals To Date
Kevin Main (GK) 86 apps -
Craig McKeown 152 apps22 goals
Johnny Crawford 156 apps15 goals
Darryn Kelly 28 apps1 goal
Stuart Smith 260 apps25 goals
Stuart Anderson 235 apps34 goals
Graeme Rodger 226 apps81 goals
Daniel Park 55 apps12 goals
Jonathan Smith 4 apps2 goals
Kieran Lawrence 98 apps3 goals
Garry Wood 176 apps83 goals
Scott Lisle (sub) 40 apps20 goals
Aaron Norris (sub) 60 apps5 goals
Conor Gethins (sub) 145 apps52 goals

Starting Lineup
Youngest Player:Kieran Lawrence (24 years 113 days)
Oldest Player:Kevin Main (38 years 288 days)
Average Player Age:32 years 46 days
Domestic Players:10 (90.91 % of starting eleven)

Matchday Squad
Youngest Player:Cole Anderson (18 years 189 days)
Oldest Player:Kevin Main (38 years 288 days)
Average Player Age:29 years 229 days
Domestic Players:16 (88.89 % of matchday squad)

First Team Debuts

Milestones
Stuart Smith scored for the 25th time for the Club.

In recent seasons United fans have generally found more joy in their side’s performances in cup competitions than in the league. This season’s William Hill Scottish Cup has not been without its difficulties for United but they have now survived two games and have the prospect of drawing a lucrative tie and the chance of a bit of giant killing. In this case at home against Annan Athletic a team they saw off in season 2016-17.

Their journey to this point was not the most comfortable one but having seen off local rivals Turriff United on neutral territory at Keith following repeated cancellations at a water-logged North Lodge Park they, spent Boxing Day on the long trail past Edinburgh and down the A1 to face Haddington Athletic.

Although Formartine inhabit a tier above their hosts they were well aware that their hosts, managed ironically by one of the most skilled tanner ball players ever to have played for United, ex Hearts and Leicester City midfielder Joe Hamill, had managed a run of 12 successive games undefeated. With that record and the level of inside knowledge that wily Joe could offer his club, the challenge facing United was significant.

Formartine deserved their victory and although they were made to work hard for it by a well organised and well determined outfit they did all that was asked of them and after a slow burn to get into their stride battled on to overturn a very late equaliser with a superbly executed winner right at the death.

The first half was a rather stuttering affair where both sides offered more effort than composure and goalmouth action was at something of a premium. There were few if any chances that could be called clear cut but arguably the best of these fell for the home side: a flashing header by Finnan from a Lough ball in from the right that flashed just wide of Main’s right upright and a one on one with Auriemma in on Main that the keeper blocked convincingly. At the other end Lawrence fed a ball in from the left to Wood about ten yards out but Harris got a boot to the ball to forestall the shot.

The second half opened well for United. Left back SMITH made a charge down the flank and having got the better of Congleton hoisted a remarkable lofted lob towards the near post. Keeper Cornet looked to have it covered but seemed to panic under pressure from big Gary Wood and in trying to pull the ball down from the junction of bar and post carried it over his goal line. This was in the second minute of the second session and it settled United somewhat although the high energy response of Athletic never allowed them to impose their will on proceedings. Goalmouth action was still limited but in the 84th minute sheer persistence by the home side gave them a lifeline. They had made a few incursions to the United box and the impetus looked to be with them but nothing they did looked like seriously threatening either keeper Main or a well organised rearguard until sub O’Neill got the ball left of goal and with his back to it. Turning in the densely populated box he somehow managed to drill it diagonally through a thicket of limbs low into the far corner of the net.

United were having none of that though and with sub LISLE buzzing like a knackered fridge, he latched on to a superb lofted pass from fellow sub “Aero” Norris. Cutting in from wide right beyond the corner of the box he hit a scorching waist high drive past keeper Cornett off the inside of the far post and into the net.

Match report by Colin Keenan