Formartine progress in Highland League Cup with win over Wick Academy
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Wick Academy 0 Formartine United 2
As the first round of the Highland League Cup starts at the last 16 stage, the 18 clubs eligible to compete for the trophy need to be reduced by two for that to happen.
This was one of the two preliminary games created to allow this and Formartine now progress to the first round proper where they will face Huntly at Christie Park on Saturday, November 12.
It was the second time in a fortnight they and their faithful had made the trek over the Berriedale Braes and the second time they had returned victorious.
They scored both early and late in a game that was resolutely contested in midfield for a fair while but where they had a clinical edge and superior fire power up front and never looked to be in any real danger of not progressing to meet Huntly.
With each side having had such recent experience of the other, there were going to be few surprises although United did add new signing Aidan Combe to their starting line-up.
Given the recency of his acquisition by Formartine the midfielder fitted in well and made a solid contribution with a number of incursions that took the ball into Academy territory and opened up some decent options for his new colleagues.
United were the first to show their teeth when a move down the right started by Crawford released Park to progress down the flank and curl a cross into the six-yard area. It was only partially cleared as far as Wade whose shot rebounded about in the densely packed area until MacIver whacked it towards goal. It rebounded off a defensive foot for an unrewarded corner.
Wick huffed and puffed in the middle and although veteran Richard Macadie tried to control proceedings from there, he was frequently isolated by Gallagher and Combe in particular and an industrious visiting midfield in general.
Most of Wick's forward intentions came through the middle and were comfortably contained by United who were quick to press and to do so as high as possible.
It took only until the 12th minute for United to open the scoring. Although they had made one or two attacks down the left using the pace of MacIver in the process, they generally looked like getting more joy on the right.
Park made a number of powerful runs on that flank and Wade had the vision to move into space to receive from them. A quick pass inside from Park to Wade to MacIver further left, returned to Wade who flicked on to the wily Jonny Smith to hit the ball beyond the right hand of Williamson.
Even this early the writing was on the wall for Wick who worked hard to improve their level of possession but they never reached the level of topping United in that aspect and seldom progressed with what they had gained to the level of forcing a meaningful save from keeper Macdonald. He had one speculative effort from Ross Allan to deal with and a deflection off a Hennem shot to see off past his right upright.
So little was he occupied that he appeared to treasure highly whatever precious time he had with the ball. Savouring every last second of his contact with it he earned himself a 33rd minute booking for time wasting, a sight seldom seen in the first half of a game.
The second half saw continued and increasing dominance by United and despite playing down the brae in the second session, little of note from Wick.
A long range thunderbolt by Macadie about 30 yards out on the left whizzed across the united goalmouth on its way to safety just after the hour mark was their most notable threat.
Wade was a bit much for the home rearguard to contain and drew a number of late and often illegal challenges.
United had established consistent territorial advantage and had Wick constantly on the back foot.
Breaking through the middle in the 80th minute the Dominican international was fouled from behind barely a yard shy of the box.
Claims for a penalty from one side and of simulation by the other induced a few bookings.
Park took the free-kick firing low through a ruck of players. Williamson got something on the ball at the base of his left upright but was unable to secure the ball before Gallagher following up, reacted smartly to net the rebound from close range.
Wick had looked a beaten side before this and had no way back from there.
