2024/25 – Fraserburgh 2 v 0 Banks o’ Dee

Bellslea Park, Highland League Cup 1/2 Final, 28/2/25

Me still 334

Fraserburgh Football Club

Founded – 1910

Nickname – The Broch, The Burry

A bonus game on a Friday night as I find myself stuck at home due to being barred from entering Angola, this meaning I cannot go to work. A bit of a disaster but shit happens as they say. A trip to Bellslea is never a bad thing so an impromptu visit for a semi-final under the lights surely couldn’t be a disappointment and a good get away from the recently added stress of being effectively unemployed.

With the Broch aiming for a cup double (also in the Aberdeenshire Shield final) and the Dee aiming for a double (Aberdeenshire Cup in the bag) I really could not predict what was coming. A tight affair between two teams who have a bit of a history of good form in the cups is what the big crowd was treated too. By big crowd I mean highly impressive numbers of over 600 and with the racket they made at times you knew it was a bumper attendance. Bellslea is rowdy at the best of times but tonight was ace . I had a feeling it was to be big crowd when I nipped into the Leisure Centre for a swifty pre-match. Usually you get a pint quick sharp and a seat. Neither happened as the place was totally hoaching. A good sign for what was coming in Bellslea. Although a bastion for all things traditional in fitba, one thing I have totally softened to is Friday nights under the lights. I actually think I now prefer them to any other time in the week. With the large numbers in the compact Bellslea this was set up to put meat on the bones for my love of a Friday nighter.

The first half was two teams evenly matched. Not action packed but on a knife edge. Banks o’ Dee should have been in the lead early when Liam Duell had an absolute howler when he tickled the ball straight at Joe Barbour from a handful of yards. The problem being the Broch keeper was almost against his post at the time and Duell had pretty much the whole empty goal to hit after receiving the ball from Philipson. Soon after, Broch testimonial year man Jamie Beagrie tried a thunderbastard from 25 yards out. This thing was like a meteor but was just off target hitting the corporate prawn sannie cabin behind the goal.The action was not huge if truth be told but the Broch grew into the better side as the minutes ticked on. Towards the end of the half they had two decent chances. The first when Bryan Hay headed a corner at goal which was cleared. The resulting corned fell to Greg Buchan who sent his effort over the bar. The whole of Bellslea shouted “hit it” in unison but the midfielder went for the World Cup finish and sent it flying into orbit. A pretty tense affair going into the half.

HT 0 v 0

As numerous kids milled about with signed arms after some Sharpie + subs action the teams remerged and the Broch seemed to have a bit of fire in their bellies. There was a distinct determination about the whole team. They were getting stuck in and not giving a minutes peace. A mention to Broch man Beagrie who I thought disrupted the Dee very well throughout. The home side had an early chance, well two when Logan Watt pulled a solid save out of Daniel Hoban then again from the rebound which also fell to him. But some quality goalkeeping from the Dee number one prevented the deadlock being broken. The Broch were battling and Banks o’ Dee were not up to it. To be honest I saw a team lacking leadership or someone to take the game by the scruff of the neck to use an old cliche. When in a battle you need someone to stand up and be counted and to spread that through the team. It did not happen. A dirty sneaky elbow here or a late tackle there or just bitching and moaning wont do it and this was the case. The Broch kept about their task and if anyone was going to win the game I would have wagered on the home side. Logan Watt had another big chance when a long ball caught out the Dee defence leaving the Broch 14 in a foot race with Hoban, although Watt got there first with his head nicking the ball past the keeper the ball went agonisingly wide. However, credit has to go to Hoban again who I am sure put the Broch man off a bit with his his reaction to come sprinting out. Good goalkeeping as opposed to a bad miss.With penalties edging closer I was starting to hope the kicks were to be taken at the terrace end where I was perched next to regular Bellslea acquaintances Steve Milinkovic-Savic and Martin Moir. The Barbours on the other hand had different ideas. With about eight minutes to go goalkeeper Joe launched a perfect ball three qurters of the way up the park which dropped in behind the Banks o’ Dee defence leaving his namesake Scott to run in and to poke the ball past Hoban who this time could do nothing to prevent the goal. Route one if ever you saw it, but effective. Surely that was game over for the Aberdeen side. But the Broch were to quickly make sure they were to face Brora Rangers or Deveronvale in the final when some quick feet from goalscorer Barbour sent a cross into the box leaving a tap in for newly introduced sub Sean Butcher this keeping the Broch’s double dream alive, much to the delight of the noisy locals who, lets say serenaded the Dee side as they left the pitch. I was out the ground and could here the jeers and “get it right up yous” echoing up the street

Entrance – £10

Attendance – 625 (Rough Head Count)

Pie – £6.40, pie, coffee, Mars Bar

Pint – £4.40, Tennent’s, Leisure Centre