North Lodge, Friendly, 12/7/25
Me still 350, Wee Man still 211
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.
Fourteen minutes after leaving the Garioch Sports Centre we were at destination two. Our most local Highland League team, Formartine United. After finally getting out the car after waiting to hear the end of the weird interview Steven Pressley gave Rob McLean on the radio, a trip to Formartine started as they usually do. Walk into the bar and see the Anderson clan, new season same old same old. Swift pint then back out into the heat to take on the best kick about in the Highland League(Wee Man will argue Deveronvale). North Lodge’s pitch was looking immaculate and this even went as far as the wee training pitch we play on. A lot of love and care goes into this place that is for sure. With my stiff legs I managed to fire off a few shots before kick off where I parked my ass on the grass in the corner as I was struggling to stand. We both thought this was going to be a decent match as Hermes are one of the best at their level and have history of defeating HFL team in the Aberdeenshire trophies. A close game we got.
The first half was a bit of a non-event truth be told. Formartine dominated the ball but did not really create a huge amount. There was definitely a pre-season feel to it. The smell of cut grass emanating from the copious tractors transporting it along Oldmeldrum Road, the constant tweeting of the birds in the trees made more audible by the almost silent crowd. The aforementioned perfect pitch also added to it and the fact it was sunny. In terms of action Formartine took the lead when Scott Ross rose to head a cross back across goal leaving Grant Corbett in the Hermes goal no chance as it nestled into the inside of the side netting. Corbett did have a chance with Formartine’s next effort though when he soundly stopped a Julian Wade header from six yards. That was about it for the half. Something of note though, after seeing Hermes a few times last season, we always came away impressed with Lewis Masson and today was no exception. Best player on the park for me, solid and an engine that never stops.
HT 1 v 0
Wee Man deserted me for the second half to have a kick about with other kids including Formartine’s new marquee signing Rory McAllister’s loon. I re-parked myself on the grass in the corner and took in a game that had changed. Hermes were far more in the second half. They had managed to prevent Formartine holding on to the ball as they did in the first half. They were also working brilliantly for each other trying to retrieve possession when out of it. Hermes were a awarded a penalty after a reckless lunging challenge gave the ref no other option. Substitute Paul Esslemont stepped up and made no mistake. The game really could have swung either way from here but it was the men from Bridge of Don who snuck it when Brunon Paszkiewicz broke free down the left and sent a pinpoint ball bang on the money for Esselmont to strike home mid goal from a few yards to grab his second. Formartine almost equalised immediately when Campbell lobbed an effort over Corbett but defender Davidson got back in the nick of time to clear off the line. Not a classic by any stretch and not much to say about the game in general but a decent win for Hermes none the less. The players probably all lost two stone in the heat too, a bonus in pre-season. Getting in the car the Dundee v Airdrie game was just coming to an end on the wireless. With defeat coming for Pressley’s men I was interested to hear what weird crap he would have in his post matcher after hearing his pre game strangeness.
Entrance – Both Free
Attendance – 105 (rough head count)
Pie – £6.50 pie, coffee, juice, Skittles
Pint – £3.50, Tennents, Club Bar
Score Predictions– Me 3 v 2, Wee Man 3 v 0
Season Score Predictions Totals – Me 0 v 0 Wee Man
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