The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Huntly hold Formartine to draw in a feisty affair
Three red cards and chances galore in enthralling stalemate
Huntly and Formartine United battled out an entertaining scoreless draw at Christie Park last night.
Huntly were at full strength while Formartine player-manager Paul Lawson brought back central defender Craig McKeown, who missed Friday night’s 2-1 Aberdeenshire Cup final loss to Fraserburgh with a tight calf. Former Strathspey Thistle striker Scott Lisle dropped to the bench.
United started on the front foot and forced a couple of corner kicks which were dealt with confidently by the home defence.
On the quarter-hour mark Huntly defender Craig Dorrat limped off with Paul Esslemont coming on in midfield and Glenn Murison dropping back.
The home side had an amazing escape two minutes later when Andy Greig beat three Huntly players before drawing keeper John Farquhar and shooting from point-blank range. His drive was cleared off the line and the rebound fell to Daniel Park but Ashley Ballam cleared his effort over the top with his head for a fruitless corner kick.
On 20 minutes Farquhar in the home goal did well to dive at the feet of Garry Wood after a knock-down from Michael Clark.
Huntly started to grow into the game and Declan Milne sent an 18-yard half volley over the Formartine crossbar in the 31st minute.
On the stroke of halftime Esslemont fired over with a back-post volley.
Fifteen minutes after the break Formartine were reduced to 10 men when Liam Strachan picked up a second yellow card for wiping out Nathan Meres in full flight, the stand-side linesman bringing the misdemeanour to the attention of referee Will Smith.
Shortly after, Huntly winger Meres beat Kevin Main with a superb 15 yarder but his effort clattered back off the post, and the same player almost fired the rebound out of the ground.
United’s Wood nodded wide from six yards with the goal gaping before, with six minutes to go, Declan Milne had the chance to win it for Huntly but scuffed his shot as Kevin Main saved easily.
Formartine assistant manager Russell Anderson was then sent to the stand for remarks made to the referee – in what was later revealed to have been a case of mistaken identity – before Black and Golds skipper Ross Still was given his marching orders after picking up a second yellow card at the death.