Formartine United lifted the Morrison Motors (Turriff) Aberdeenshire Shield for the first time in their history with a convincing victory over Banks o’ Dee at Balmoral Stadium in Cove last night.
An early own goal by Dee’s Mark Gilmour settled any United nerves and further goals from Archie Macphee, Garry Wood and man of the match Graeme Rodger sealed a famous victory.
Before kick-off there was a minute’s applause in memory of former Aberdeenshire FA secretary Brian Christie who died at the age of 59 just before Christmas.
In the eighth-minute a superb curling 22-yard drive from Kieran Lawrence was brilliantly tipped over the crossbar by Dee keeper Andy Shearer.
Shortly after only a timely interception by former Huntly defender Neale Allan robbed United striker Macphee of a scoring opportunity just as he was about to shoot.
The Highland League side took the lead on the quarter hour mark with a fortuitous goal, United midfielder Rodger and Gilmour both went for the ball 12 yards out and it spun off the unfortunate Dee defender and into the far corner of the net for own-goal.
Formartine doubled their advantage in the 31st-minute, Rodger broke through midfield at speed and fed Macphee who calmly stroked the ball past the diving Shearer from 12 yards.
Formartine looked really dangerous every time they broke, and in the 42nd-minute they made it 3-0, Greig’s cross picked out Macphee whose point-blank header was brilliantly parried by Shearer but the rebound fell kindly to Wood who prodded it home from four yards.
In the first minute of the second half it took a great block by Dee defender Greg Alexander to deny Rodger just as he was about to pull the trigger. Banks o’ Dee responded with a six-yard Shane Winton header from a pin-point corner kick that flew a couple of yards wide of the upright.
In the 54th-minute Formartine emphasised their superiority with a fourth goal, Graeme Rodger side-footing home a cross from substitute Ryan Stott from six yards.
In the 67th-minute Banks o’ Dee gained a crumb of comfort when substitute Jamie Buglass finished off a Dean Lawrie pass to score a well-deserved consolation goal.
With quarter of an hour to go Banks o’ Dee has loud claims for a penalty kick when Mike Philipson appeared have been brought down in the box by Jonny Crawford but referee Graeme Beaton waved play-on.