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Forbes stunner sinks Forres
FRASERBURGH United travelled to their bogey team of recent seasons and came away with a hard fought victory after a torrid 90mins that saw a fantastic strike from Neil Forbes and some heroic goalkeeping from United's Bennett keep Broch's promotion push on track.
In a game full of incident and excitement, though maybe not for the football purists, Forres missed a penalty and also saw United reduced to 10 men to leave them clinging on at the end.
After playing only one game in two months, United were looking forward to getting back into action.
Manager Allan was forced into a re-shuffle as Brown, C. Ritchie, A. Ritchie and Hay were all out injured. Clark and Ross were forced into the full back positions while R.Noble and Buchan came into the starting 11.
The game began at a furious pace and Cowe's challenge on Pennie in the opening minutes set the tone for the remainder of the match as he dived in full blooded to leave the Forres player grounded and spark some angry remonstrations on both sides.
United slowly built up some initiative as Buchan and McLeman came into the game, delivering early dangerous crosses that Thistle were struggling to cope with. From a Buchan corner, R. Noble saw his goal bound header deflected over.
From the resultant corner on 16 minutes, Buchan whipped in a great ball and it took a superb clearing header from Angus on his own goal-line to prevent the ball flying into the net with Jag's keeper McGowan flapping.
At the other end, on 20 minutes, a crude challenge from Patterson on United keeper Dunbar saw the youngster carried off.
Sub keeper Bennett took his place between the sticks and United immediately struck. On 31 minutes, neat play from Clark and Bisset released McLeman inside right; the winger saw his driven cross blocked by Benson's arm with Bisset ready to pounce.
Referee Steven pointed to the spot with Thistle protestations ringing loudly. Bisset stepped up and drove the ball left, McGowan guessed correctly and palmed the ball up into the air where Bisset reacted quickest to bundle home.
Forres were stunned and suffered a further set-back when United doubled their lead moments later. McLeman cut inside on the halfway line, skipping past Pennie and Angus, he zipped the ball out wide left to Buchan, who cut inside to his right foot where he shaped to shoot before sliding the ball square to Forbes 25 yards out.
The work-horse midfielder took a touch before slamming a peach of a strike into the top-corner of McGowan's goal via the underside of the bar for his first goal in 53 matches.
United then sat back and allowed Forres to build their way back into the game and they were lucky to escape on 38mins, when Rennie broke the offside trap and squared to Short unmarked and with the goal at his mercy he dragged his shot wide.
United did not heed their let-off and let Forres into the match with a defensively poor goal.
From a Broch corner Clark gave the ball away to Bremner and he lumped a diagonal ball that Forbes cleared for a throw in 20 yards out.
Alert to the opportunity, Dawson took a quick throw before the United defence had settled and Davies ghosted in to flick the ball beyond Bennett to half the deficit.
The second half saw Forres turn the screw as United began to sit deeper and deeper, but without creating any chances of note.
However, United's lack of match sharpness due to their recent inactivity became more evident as they struggled to retain possession. Despite the Forres pressure the United defence were just about holding firm with MacIntosh in particular resolute, a Pennie shot from 20 yards flew over the best Forres could offer.
Forres again raised the tempo and pushed players forward, a brilliant tip over by Bennet from Pennie's rasping drive kept the scores even.
The match's boiling point came on 79 minutes, Angus split the United defence to send Rainer racing after the ball, Broch stopper Bennett read the situation and sped out to claim the ball as the striker piled in and over him. Referee Steven pointed to the spot for a penalty kick.
United's S. Noble was shown a straight red card. With the incident calming, Short set the ball down for the penalty. Bennett guessed correctly and tipped the ball round the post to amazingly keep United's lead in tact.
Broch manager Allan said: "We let ourselves down by giving away a silly goal to let them back into it, as at that point we were pretty secure. The second half was a bit of a disaster; we toiled badly and ended up hanging on at the end.
"With regard to the sending off I didn't see it. But we've now lost another defender needlessly and every game is going to be like a cup final from now on in."
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Weather for Fraserburgh
Saturday 11 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 4 C to 7 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: West
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Sunny spells
Temperature: 4 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: West
