FORMARTINE UTD 1 STENHOUSEMUIR 3

Stenhousemuir defeated Highland League side Formartine 3-1 in a game that opened up in the second half.

Formartine started the game on the front foot and were unlucky not to take the lead when the ball fell to Jack McIver at the edge of the area, but the former Don fired over.

Matthew Yates and Julian Wade both went close as the two teams probed for an opener. A long throw by Mike Anderson was headed just over the top by Dan Higgins, who had earlier cleared a goalbound effort off his own line.

The all-important breakthrough arrived four minutes into the second half when a Yates corner was deflected into the goal by Aaron Norris.

Supersub Adam Brown headed home the nerve-settling second when he rose to nod Anderson’s cross past Ewen Macdonald.

Wade pulled one back in time-added with a close-range finish to raise hopes of a dramatic finale.

Within a minute, the ever-dangerous Yates restored the two-goal cushion, Hamish Orr laying it on a plate for the young striker to sidefoot home