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FRASERBURGH maintained their winning run in the Highland League to five games, after coming out on top with a dramatic late flourish away to Deveronvale.
Highland League Deveronvale 1, Fraserburgh 2
And if the taste of victory wasn't sweet enough, it was made even sweeter by the fact that it was the first Broch side to win at Princess Royal Park in a League match since 1999.
A penalty kick from Allan Hale with five minutes remaining gave Fraserburgh the points which lifted them up to 5th in the table and within a point of their Banff counterparts.
Both sides may have been forgiven for a lack of match fitness, Deveronvale hadn't played a game since December 12, and Fraserburgh were only in action once since the aforementioned date.
Unsurprisingly, the game had a relatively quiet start, a switched ball to Paul Urquhart, whose cross was pushed over by Leask at the front post was only the real moment of concern for the Broch in the opening stages.
Leask's opposite number, James Blanchard also had to be called upon, although momentarily, making an easy save from what was quite a well-struck Graham Johnston free-kick.
The closest anyone came to opening the scoring however, occurred just before the half-hour mark, when Robbie Brown sent a dipping, audacious effort towards goal, but it hit the bar via the fingertips of Leask, who is quickly becoming an indispensable figure in the youthful Broch side.
On 34 minutes, an outward pass to Graham Johnston was threaded back infield to Steven Main, who hit a curling right-foot shot which ended up just on the wrong side of the post.
Overall, it had been a fairly even first-half, with Fraserburgh restricting Deveronvale's space to flow in the midfield area, and neither side being able to make the all-important breakthrough.
However, it was only six minutes following half-time that Fraserburgh opened the scoring.
Johnston slipped the ball to Jonathan Garden, who was proving a handful up front, showing this as he managed to outmuscle Scott Fraser and slide the goal under Blanchard as the ball crawled over the line. A scrappy goal? Perhaps, but it was a goal which opened the door for somewhat of a red letter day for Fraserburgh.
Leask had to be alert to turn away a downward header from Fraser, but there was nothing he could do about Vale's quick fire equaliser.
Graham Watt's speedily taken free-kick was rolled out to Paul Urquhart lurking on the edge of the box, and he rifled in a daisy-cutter which hit the back of the net, albeit it appeared to be aided by a deflection on its route towards goal.
The match suddenly became a rather tense affair, both sides knowing that the next goal would more than likely decide the outcome of the match. And with just a matter of minutes remaining, that goal came.
Jamie Beagrie's quick throw to the ever-lively Allan Hale on the right-hand side created the opening, Hale's chipped ball into the front post area was missed by Garden but consequently handled by Kenny Gilbert, and Bryan Braidwood pointed towards the penalty spot.
The provider then had the chance to make himself the match decider, as Allan Hale stepped up to the plate.
The 22-year-old had already missed vital spot-kicks this season, but he showed no signs of nerves on this occasion, coolly slotting the ball down the middle of the goal with the instep of his foot.
There looked to be no way back for the Vale, and this was further ensured by the dismissal of Robbie Brown deep into injury-time for a second bookable offence, and the Broch's points were safe.
Deveronvale: Blanchard, Gilbert, Milne, Chisholm, Fraser, Urquhart, Rodger (Cowie 78), Brown, Duncanson, Mike McKenzie (Smith 56), Watt.
Unused subs: Barclay, Coutts, Derek McKenzie.
Fraserburgh: Leask, Elrick (Ritchie 51), McBride, Neil Main, Ralph, Hay, Beagrie, Garden, Hale, Johnston, Steven Main.
Unused subs: Weymss, Duguid, Morrice, Gordon.
Referee: Bryan Braidwood.
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Weather for Fraserburgh
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 10 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
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