Appearances & Goals To Date

Stewart Gray (GK)		1 app (debut)	-
Mark Simpson		1 app (debut)	-
Stuart Cumming		1 app (debut)	-
Alistair Graham		1 app (debut)	-
Darran McGuiness		1 app (debut)	-
Stuart Shinnie		1 app (debut)	-
Patrick Vigurs		1 app (debut)	-
Stuart McKay		1 app (debut)	1 goal
Kenny Coull		1 app (debut)	2 goals
Marc Young		1 app (debut)	-
Adam Maitland		1 app (debut)	-
James Seivwright (sub)		1 app (debut)	-
Ross Forsyth (sub)		1 app (debut)	-
Robert Maitland (sub)		1 app (debut)	-

Starting Lineup

Matchday Squad

First Team Debuts

	Adam Maitland	(Signed )
	Alistair Graham	(Signed )
	Darran McGuiness	(Signed January 21st, 2009)
	Kenny Coull	(Signed )
	Marc Young	(Signed June 14th, 2008)
	Mark Simpson	(Signed )
	Patrick Vigurs	(Signed )
	Stewart Gray	(Signed )
	Stuart Cumming	(Signed )
	Stuart McKay	(Signed )
	Stuart Shinnie	(Signed January 21st, 2008)
	James Seivwright	(Signed )
	Robert Maitland	(Signed )
	Ross Forsyth	(Signed )

Milestones

Formartine’s Highland League adventure eventually got underway with a trip to Morayshire, where they were warmly welcomed by Rothes, whose Chairman, Robbie Thomson, had secured the services of the Elgin and District Pipe Band to mark the event.

On the pitch too, the Rothes team gave the visitors a “warm” introduction to senior football. For long spells their hard graft and sheer physical presence posed problems for the newcomers. On another day, with more clinical finishing, the home team might have come away with at least a point.

In the first 15 minutes Formartine took the game to the home team and dominated a rather scrappy period of play. Typical was a Coull head flick to McKay, whose effort was deflected for a corner. From the resulting goalmouth scramble Rothes broke away and Tweedie was just off target with a neat shot.

In 16 minutes Coull had the ball in the net only to be ruled off-side. A couple of minutes later his fellow striker was upended and, after consulting her assistant, Referee Pirie pointed to the spot. Marc Young shot low to the keeper’s left. Dunn saved comfortably.

Encouraged by their good fortune Rothes went on to enjoy their best spell. The Smiths blasted over in quick succession and MacRae should have done better with a free header. The tall Michael Smith was troubling the visitors’ defence and on the half hour mark he shot over when it looked easier to score. However the Formartine back four were being well marshalled by Simpson and held out until half time.

Formartine pressed forward at the beginning of the second half. Within two minutes Dunn had to deal with two free kicks and a corner. The slight breeze was now in the away team’s favour and the quick feet of both Coull and McKay were becoming increasingly influential.

Rothes were being restricted to the occasional, but nevertheless dangerous, breakaway. Despite Shortreed’s speculative lob hitting the bar, the visitors were well in control. When Simpson split the defence, Dunn had no option but to bring down McKay for another penalty and a red card. Substitute Bob Maitland took the kick – high and wide! Rothes would have to play for 30 minutes with 10 men. Could Formartine take advantage? The answer was a most emphatic yes.

Substitute Ridgers was forced to make some excellent stops before Coull beat him rather easily with a strong shot. Formartine then replaced Shinnie with Forsyth. With 15 minutes to go Seivwright came on for Cumming and was soon in the action releasing McKay with a long incisive cross field ball. Yet again the striker was brought down. A third penalty was awarded! On this occasion Coull made no mistake.

And it was no surprise when McKay nodded in a third from a Simpson flick.

Match report by Colin Keenan



Photography by Ian Rennie