Strathburn Park(Garioch Sport Centre), AAFA Division 1 North, 13/5/23
Me 275 ,Wee Man 147
Burghmuir Amateur Football Club
Founded -1988
Nickname – Burgh
Honours – AAFA Division One East -2003/04. AAFA Division One North – 2005/06. AAFA Division Two East – 2021/22 AAFA Division Six – 1994/95. Castle Rovers Cup – 2021/22. Ian Napier Memorial Shield – 2006/07 and 2012/13. White Cup – 1995/96.
Random Fact – More pitch related than club. At U15s my Ellon team took on Colony Park at Strathburn Park. It was blowing a hoolie on the day and when doing the coin toss with the ref, myself(Ellon captain) and Colony captain Neil McIntosh were asked by the ref if we were sure we wanted the game to go ahead. With both of us giving a tough “let’s do this” the referee blew for kick off. Only to blow the final whistle less than a minute later when our goal blew down leaving our keeper Steven Baillie standing less than a yard away from the felled goal frame shouting “fucking hell that was close”. Incredible stuff
With Wee Man at a party very close to Strathburn Park It would have been rude not to spend the afternoon in the company of Aberdeenshire AFA fitba, since I was at a loose end for a bit. A great decision it turned out to be too. As thousands piled to watch a drab 0 v 0 sixteen or so miles away the 37 who watched this were treated to a barrel load of action. A good advert for the amateurs up this way that is not even in doubt.
However though, the first 15 minutes were a non event with were little of note in the ‘shire sun. But the game sparked into life when Great Western were awarded a penalty. One that referee Alan Leslie had no doubt about. It looked like the correct decision from my angle. Jason Davie stepped up but Burgh keeper Martin Cheyne got down well to his left and saved the kick. This sparked the game into life and the entertainment level increased ten fold. Chances were made at both ends but the home side looked the more dangerous with tricky wee forward Finlay Watson being chief tormentor. A good player to watch and one that looked to be a pain in the ass to deal with. It was Burghmuir who drew first blood. Great Western will be kicking themselves at the space they allowed Daniel Stalker who’s 18 yard effort seemed to trickle across the box and into the bottom corner as defenders and keeper just looked on. It seemed to take an eternity to hit the net. It was like a slow motion replay. It didn’t take long for the score to double and it was that man Watson who got it. Receiving the ball around 35 yards out he drove at the the Western defence who went into reverse gear. With 20 yards to goal Watson struck a powerful effort which took a slight touch on the way through but from where I was i reckon the ball was going in anyway deflection or not. It could have and probably should have been 3 v 0 before the half ended when Stalker had a great chance inside the box which he struck well but Johnstone in the Western goal got strong hands to it. Then a sweaty trampolined out Wee Man turned up as the half died out.
HT 2 v 0
Western seemed a different team in the second half and it wasn’t long until they had their first chance of the half when Ryan Dick hit a speculative effort from distance which wasn’t far away. Scott Knox was next up and rifled an effort at goal but Cheyne stood up well to keep it out. The visitors kept pushing and kept going at Burghmuir. This leading to a bit of bitching setting into the home team as things were not going their way. This loss of their heads let in Western who had were getting into good positions creating numerous chances with the best falling to Martyn Kidd who really should have at least hit the target from ten yards out on the left. Instead he sent Wee Man running to retrieve the ball. A huge chance. Burgh despite the sniping were unlucky to add another when in amongst the Western pressure Stalker rattled the bar from close range. He did well to get the strike away but was just off with the aim. From here Western broke and wasted another good chance and pulled another good save out of Cheyne who was staking his claim for man of the match. Then again in the too and fro nature Burghmuir spurned another massive chance when Stalker ran clean through, as keeper Johnston attempted to close him down the striker did well to round him but his effort went across goal and wide. This was quickly followed by team mate Stewart sclaffing an effort wide which should have been game over. He tried to cut across the ball but got it wrong. The third did come when Christopher Shinnie rose to head home a corner and most likely keeping the points in Inverurie. But Great Western United were not out of it and didn’t chuck in the towel. They dominated the last spell of the game and grabbed one back Jason Davie broke into the box. Cheyne did well to force him wide but from an incredibly tight angle the Western striker squeezed the ball in. Was it game on again or was time against the Aberdeen side. In all honesty the really should have taken a point from this or even the full quota. Kidd had a clear cut chance which he incredibly miss hit. This with five to go. Western substitute Mitchell was soon the opposite from Kidd when he struck the ball too well. From 18 yards he howitzered a half volley on what looked like an Olympic athlete leaping over a hurdle, what a connection he made but it rattled the bar. I have seen goals blow down here before and I am surprised this effort didn’t knock them down. Then in the last minute it was 3 v 2 when after some suspect home defending Davie struck again unmarked on the edge of the 6 yard box but it was too late.
During the week I was asked by a few folk if I was going to Pittodrie for the Gothenburg celebration game vs Hibs. I couldn’t due to Wee Man’s party in Inverurie. But even if it was possible I wouldn’t have. I am enjoying this random fitba watching far too much and more often than not it throws up these superb to watch action filled “humdingers”. I was a big fan of that today in Inverurie. I could have went home and cut the grass or cleaned the bathroom when I dropped Wee Man off. Glad I decided on the Amateurs in the sun. Yes it could have been about 8 v 8 on another day but you could never complain about the entertainment served up.
Entrance – Free
Attendance – 37
Pie – N/A
Pint – £3.70, Tennents, Commercial Inn
Score Predictions – Me 2 v 1, Wee Man 2 v 0
Score Prediction Season Total – Me 2 v 4 Wee Man
FITBAWBAG 