North Lodge, Highland Football League, 5/3/25
Me still 335
Formartine United Football Club
Founded – 1948
Nickname – United
Honours (Since step up to senior)- Highland League Cup – 2017/18. Aberdeenshire Cup – 2013/14 and 2017/18. Aberdeenshire Shield – 2018/19.
Three years ago yesterday(and today if you count the Saturday morning repeat) the Wee Man and I got our mugs on the telly through A View From The Terrace on a visit up to Lossiemouth FC. Tonight coincidentally sees me watching said team, however, this time without Junior next to me. Not a deliberate choice seeing the Coasters on the anniversary, more of a handiness as no other HFL game was reachable after a day with my favourite duo in the world. For a fitba fix it was North Lodge or the wankerball on the box and sod the latter for an option. Let’s face it too, there are many perks of a game only 6 miles from your door. You also get a decent pie at Formartine. Local, good pastry goods, home by 10 and the greatest league in the world. Winner. Add in the total of entrance, pint and food its even more of a winner.
The game was very one sided at times. Especially the first half. Formartine had two early chances one after the other. The first from Robert Ward who got on the end of a trademark whoor of a throw from Matthew McLean but Lossie keeper Aaron Anderson stood up well, the rebound eventually found its way to the head of Matthew McLean who sent a looped nodded effort over Anderson but off the bar. It was all Formartine and I was expecting a few from the home side but to their credit the Coasters made a good account of themselves defensively speaking. Every ball into the box, which there was the high end of the 20s at least seemed to be met by a blue head or toe leaving Anderson largely untested in the Lossie goal. It really was incredible the number of balls into the box Formartine put in first half. Going forward Lossie didn’t show much barring a snap shot from Brodie Allen which was easy for MacDonald in the home goal. The biggest chance of the half came right at the end of the 45 when United’s Paul Campbell leathered a half volley which was on target pulling a very tidy diving save from Anderson who tipped it over.
HT 0 v 0
Formartine continued on the front foot in the second half but Lossie although defending as soundly as they did in the first half seemed to be a lot better on the ball and were not seeing the ball come straight back at them as they were using their out balls aot better this causing a bit more of a threat. But if anyone was going to score it was to be the home side and thats what happened when Ward fired off a cracking finish worthy of winning a game. A cross ball from the left was partially nodded clear and found the striker at the edge of the box or thereabouts on the right, with his back to goal he turned on the ball and sent a superb effort past Anderson leaving the Lossie custodian no chance. A cracking finish. Ward almost pulled the same rabbit out of the hat straight away when he was picked out again within a minute, this time more centrally but this time there was too much height on the finish. As stated Lossie continued to defend well with only one real scare coming their way for the rest of the match. This when cross into the box was punched clear by keeper Anderson (which let off an audibly gratify crack) the ball was sent straight back goal ward and cleared on the line with the follow up well saved by Anderson (did it hit the bar after? It looked like it from the opposite end). It felt like the temperature nosedived mid half and I was bloody jeelt. There was no wind but by fuck I was feeling it, maybe ill or maybe just an old man these days. But the game heated up on the pitch with a bit of niggle creeping in and a flurry of bookings. One which I thought was a complete nonsense when Lossie skipper James Leslie fired into a challenge on Ward (i think), he clearly won the ball and the 40 yards the ball travelled proved this but the referee Kennedy pulled it up and brandished a yellow. One thing I love about the non-league is you still get the booming challenges. Note to refs, don’t let the art of a tackle die at this level like it has in the upper ends. A couple of moves late on from Lossie came but Formartine managed to see out the game taking the three points. Not a classic by any means but watching Lossie being asked to defend and a lot and coping very well on the whole, only to be outdone by what was a peach was interesting to watch in itself.
Another point of note, on top of our prementioned five minutes of fame, this week also saw the six year anniversary of me walking out of Pittodrie for the last time as a season ticket holder. For sure lot has changed in that time with football and life in general. But one thing that has stayed the same over that period is that every (non-covid) season since, the most viewed league for me has been the Highland Football League. The league which has the biggest hand in me avoiding pro fitba these days and I guarantee this wont be changing any time soon. There has been no instance where I have thought, “I wish I was in the South Stand” throughout this sans Pittodrie spell. I would never have expected this to be the be the case but life works in mysterious ways and for now give me the likes of United v The Coasters over expensive VAR infested mass produced pies keech any day.
Entrance – £10 Me
Attendance – 112 (Rough Head Count)
Pie – £3.50, pie and coffee
Pint – £3, Tennent’s, Supporters Bar
FITBAWBAG 