2024/25 – Dyce 0 v 1 Formartine United

Ian Mair Park, Aberdeenshire Shield Round 1, 6/11/24

Me still 327

Dyce Football Club

Founded – 1989

Nickname – The Blue and White Hoops

Honours – NRJFA Division One – 2005/06. North Regional Cup – 2007/08 and 2008/09. Grill League Cup – 2008/09, 2015/16 and 2017/18. Morrison Trophy – 2001/02

Random Fact – I once saw a team mate wiped out while sprinting up the touchline by a member of the home dugout who entered the pitch to do so at Ian Mair Park. One of the funniest while a being tone of the maddest things I have ever seen in a fitba match. I will mention it at every given opportunity.

Banks o’ Dee v Deveronvale or Dyce v Formartine United. The thought of the delightful Dyce sausage roll was enough for me on this occasion. But as an added bonus I do enjoy the hybrid games that the Aberdeenshire Cup and Shield throw up (by that I mean Junior v Highland League). Then to add to that, one of my favourite places to watch a night time game up this neck of the woods is Ian Mair Park. It is just one if those special places in my eyes. First off there was time to squeeze in a pint at the Greentress, somewhere I had not been for a long long time. In here I got speaking to the only other punter, who turned out to be Formartine player Stuart Smiths old boy. A fine mannie and randomly a follower of Elche in Spain. Some good tales of watching fitba and seeing and English team losing in the Champions League later I wandered down the hill towards the floodlights.With Formartine not in the best of form this season, could we be in for a shock on the edge of the Aberdeen city boundaries? With food acquired I headed across to the old railway side(the Formartine and Buchan way topically) of the park as usual. Here I bumped into my ex-fitba manager Jimbo, his loon and ex-teammate Paulzy and making it a tri-generational affair Paul’s loon Josh was in about too. This turning into a bonus as the catch up during the first half was more entertaining than goings on in the game as in all honesty the first have was a a damp squib. Not much unfolded in this dull 45. Tempers almost boiled over at one point but were well diffused by the referee. This and Julian Wade was fouled numerous times. Barring that there was not much to talk of.

HT 0 v 0

After a bit of the Cult over the tannoy which never goes a miss, the second half was better. Well by better I mean there was more to talk about. Formartine had a glorious chance when what I would imagine will be the best pass I will see all season from Marc Lawrence found captain Rodger who was clean through bearing down on goal, Dyce keeper Morgan Cook came out to t close the angles but the Rodger from 10 yards dragged his effort wide. He had to score, the almost 150 in the ground thought he had but it wasn’t to be. Back to the initial through ball from Lawrence it really was superb, from the centre spot he bent the ball through the midfield and defence with the outside of his foot, but to get it through the gaps he did was something special. It really was a shame it was not finished off. Dyce had there first chance soon after when sub Michael Taylor hit a fizzing effort low from 25 yards which called MacDonald into action with a solid save to his right. On the theme of Dyce subs Sam Garnham sent an effort over the bar from 10 yards off of a Fergus Alberts ball. Should he have scored or was the pressure from Crawford enough to put him off. Then came a huge talking point. Formartine were given a penalty when Cook punched Ward (I think) in the head instead of the ball leaving the United man poleaxed. Crawford stepped up , Jimbo said there was no way he would miss before the ball was ballooned over the bar. A poor effort. But United did take the lead pretty much immediately. A ball in the box toward Wade saw the striker snapped which could have been another penalty in itself, with ball finding Aiden Combe who bent an effort across the box and around a couple of defenders but more importantly goalkeeper Cook and into the corner of the net. From our angle it looked a class effort with the movement of the ball. This got the Formartine tails up and the visitors pressed for a second. The best effort coming from a Tyler Mykyta free kick which was thundered goal ward but well kept out by Cook. Wade felt the wrath of the Dyce players a handful of times more before the game was brought to a finish. A far better second half and a game that which showed there is not a gulf despite the division difference between the sides. A quick “s’later” to my company for the night as I headed off to take on the darkest place in Aberdeen getting back to the car. This being the tunnel from Dyce Drive under the A947 to the car park, a darkness so black it disorientates you.

Entrance – £10

Attendance – 148 (Rough Head Count)

Pie – £9.50, steak pie, sausage roll, coffee and Irn Bru

Pint – £4.50, Tennent’s, The Greentrees