THE Broch slumped to defeat in their final match of the season.
While Rothes rounded off the season with yet another impressive victory, their seventh in ten games to move level with Brora Rangers on points, although both they and their opponents today Fraserburgh will remain behind a team in red on goal differen
ce.
The Speysiders set the tone when they scored right from kick off. The ball was played short to Iain Macrae, who advanced to 25 yards out before striking it into the bottom left hand corner of the net for what was officially the fastest goal of the season.
The Broch then had to rejig their line up in the fourth minute with former Rothes player Neil Main coming on to replaced the Broch's top scorer this season, Allan Hale.
The 13th minute was unlucky for Stuart Flett who saw his effort from 8 yards crash off the crossbar after he had controlled a Franny More cross and let fly. Fraserburgh's first effort of note came in the 20th minute with Russell McBride fired in a shot from 20 yards that flew just wide of the right hand post.
At 1-0 the Broch knew they were still in the game and Willie West had a great chance to level when a free kick was deflected into his path but from three yards out and with the goal at his mercy he somehow duffed his effort.
The response from the home side was to double their advantage right on half time. A shot from Franny More was bounced up for Stuart Flett to head home his third league goal of the season from 6 yards.
Fraserburgh's Jamie Ralph let fly just two minutes into the second half but despite an awkward bounce Ricky Horne was able to make the save. Eight minutes later Rothes right back Ashley Grant set off on a run down the right and after a one-two with Iain Macrae he cut inside to go one on one with Paul Leask, but the Dufftown native's shot flew just over the bar.
At the other end, a typically dangerous Fraserburgh corner kick fell for Jonathan Garden, but he failed to convert from just two yards out and the visitors also saw a handball claim waved away in the melee.
Twenty minutes from time Neil Main drove from the halfway line to the edge of the box before being brought down. Graham Johnston stepped up to take the free kick, but curled his effort just over the crossbar.
As with the first half Rothes responded to any signs of the opposition rallying with a goal. Subs Mark Dougal and Ricky Forsyth combined to great effect with the latter playing in the former who found Franny More at the edge of the box and the Man of the match drilled a shot into the bottom left corner of the net.
There was still time for one last Broch chance and it was Graham Johnston's ball in which found Jonathan Garden free on the penalty spot, but his header was clutched by Ricky Horne to ensure the Speysiders finished with a clean sheet and three more impressive points.
