Formartine book place in next round of Scottish Cup
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Carnoustie Panmure 1 Formartine United 2
This was an impressive performance by Formartine against the Midlands League junior champions who had already seen off both Hawick Royal Albert after a replay and Highland League Rothes to earn this round two tie in the William Hill Scottish Cup.
It was a game played at a fierce pace throughout but one where United’s pace in critical areas, will and stamina allowed them to overcome a one goal deficit just over 10 minutes into the second half and hit back hard and fast to level almost immediately before going on to establish a level of dominance that they never looked like losing thereafter.
The “Gowfers” started confidently forcing a corner on the right almost straight away. The ball was played into the goalmouth where Roche tried to make an early impression on keeper MacDonald but referee Hanvidge spotted the offence.
An end to end pattern emerged quickly thereafter and within five minutes a United break down the right was completed with Jonny Smith making a perfect timed foray into the box to head the ball beyond the apparent reach of Clarkson only to see it rebound from the left upright. That was cleared only as far as Park who promptly hit it goalward but marginally too high.
A break by Simpson spearheaded a Panmure excursion into United territory that set up Reid one on one with Macdonald but the shot was just wide.
United countered as Gallagher forced his way down the left on the end of a feed from Norris and checking in hammered a shot from the corner of the box that had Clarkson at full stretch to save at the junction of the bar and post.
In the 34th minute Fraser on the end of long punt forward from Roche got into the United box with defenders back-pedalling to cover but Macdonald was well set to get down quickly to his left to save at the base of the upright.
MacIver made progress in the inside right channel dragged Stephen and Steel out of position before spinning to clip a smart shot just inches wide of the keeper’s left stick.
The end to end pattern continued to the interval but despite the pace and pressure neither side conceded.
The second half began with Panmure ramping up the pressure. They were confident, aggressive and committed to a high press approach attempting to keep United pinned back in their own territory at the Dundee end.
Successive waves of attack were dealt with by United as both Gallagher and Adams were pushed hard to deny Simpson and Stephen from getting in shots from close range in 49 and 52 minutes.
Panmure were having their best spell in the game and their opener was consistent with run of play at the time.
A press down the inside left route took Macdonald to a point near the left corner of the United box. An attempted shot was blocked but spun to Simpson who also tried an effort.
It too was blocked in a thicket of limbs before being pounced on by Suttie who hit a ferocious 20-yard drive that rebounded from the inside of the far post and into the opposite corner of the net in the 59th minute.
United were having none of this and equalised almost immediately. Pressing forward on the right Crawford got past Steel’s challenge and swung the ball into the mix in front of goal.
Jonny Smith, back to goal, headed it to MacIver who suckered Steel and then the colossal captain Roche before slotting the ball left footed through the gap he had created about 12 yards out into the net to equalise.
It was the perfect time to equalise and it energised United. A stern response was expected but never materialised enough to check the resurgent North Lodgers.
They worked hard to press home the psychological advantage of equalising so quickly and brought on the speedy Scott Lisle to run at the increasingly weary legs of the junior side.
United also looked the fitter side overall and the balance of pressure and territorial advantage swung their way.
Wade was proving a handful by holding up the ball and making space up top. Carnoustie had no player to match the pace of Lisle and after several promising runs that created half chances for others he provided an object lesson in persistence in the 80th minute.
A blast of pace down the left side of centre took him clear of the initial markers but faced with a crowded defensive at the edge of the box, he veered left and turned back almost on the byline to cross the ball.
Twice he was blocked but the third time he floated a perfect ball over to the back post where Wade made a superbly athletic leap that took him well above the defenders to smash home a thumping header to establish a lead United were never going to surrender.
With the exception of a few long ball attempts, one of which required a saving header from keeper Macdonald, United maintained possession in sensibly safe areas and controlled proceedings until the conclusion.
