Club 40/279 – Formartine United

Match: Formartine Untied v Lossiemouth
Date: 26/02/2022
Venue: North Lodge Park, Pitmedden
Competition: Highland League
Entry Fee: £10
Travel: £47.50
Miles completed today: 334
Total miles remaining: 38025

Having spent the entirety of February in the east of Scotland I was finishing with a camel trek up to a place I’d never heard of. Naively, I’d always thought Formartine was a place in it’s own right but they hail from a small village called Pitmedden about 15 miles north of Aberdeen.
As the nearest train station is around 8 miles away it’s a pain to get here by public transport and is so much cheaper by bus. The downside is that buses are always late so you need to plan in advance and give yourself a little time in between meaning 16.5 hours out the house!
After doing a wee bit research there were two names at the club who stood out. Manager Paul Lawson played for Celtic, Motherwell & Ross County and is assisted by his brother in law who just happens to be former Aberdeen star and Scotland international Russell Anderson.

Odds:
Formartine United 1/12
Draw 8/1
Away 10/1

Things looked bleak for Lossiemouth who have never won (nor drawn) a game at North Lodge Park before in eleven attempts.
Formartine are currently 6th in the table and have only finished below this position once since joining the league in 2009. They aren’t in the running for the title but still have an outside shot at a top 4 finish if they finish the season strongly.
Lossiemouth are 15th but well clear of any relegation worries. They do struggle for goals having only scored 24 in 26 league games and my prediction was a 4-0 home victory.

The Ground

North Lodge Park is found right on the corner between an A & B road just outside Pitmedden. It’s accessible on foot via a muddy footpath but there’s no avoiding walking by the roadside even if only for a minute – you need to keep your wits about you.
It was a clear day but with a strong cold wind so it’s a major plus point that the ground has multiple sheltered areas. Two seated stands separated by the dugouts is where the home fans/hospitality are whilst the away fans congregate by two small sheltered terracing areas. Like most grounds at this level and below, you get freedom of movement and can watch the game from wherever you like.
As I nipped in for a customary steak pie I noticed the club were selling old home strips for £15 each. I couldn’t resist and picked myself one up. That’s two Highland League clubs and two shirts, maybe I’ll get a shirt from all 18?
The crowd was fairly sparse but the weather and the big occasion at Pittodrie probably had an effect on this. The hospitality was very busy and no doubt the club would’ve made their cash from here.

The Game

As the action got underway a young innocent voice close by asked his dad if the red team were Liverpool. Hopefully he wasn’t disappointed Salah and Mane hadn’t turned up today but we didn’t have to wait long for the first goal – less than a minute in fact! Scott Lislie broke through the Lossie defence and rounded the goalkeeper to slot the ball into an empty net.
To be fair to Lossiemouth, they didn’t let the setback affect them and Dean Stewart hit the bar with a header from a corner. This should’ve been a warning shot but Formartine did not take heed as the next corner was nodded home by Fergus Edwards at the back post.
Afterwards was an interesting period as both sides battled for possession and tried to use the conditions to their advantage with balls in behind the opposing defences.
Formartine took the lead as a cross from the right hand side was finished off by Jonathan Smith. He added his second only a few minutes later attacking the ball at the back post and heading into the top corner.
They added a fourth just before half time through Graeme Rodger who’s initial close range effort was well saved by Logan Ross in the Lossie goal but Rodger tapped home the rebound and the away side had crumbled.
It was a strange half as there didn’t seem to be too much between the sides yet Lossiemouth were going into the break 4-1 down – but moments of quality win games and the chances Formartine had created were deserved of the goals.
In the second half Lossie regained their composure well but almost conceded a fifth after a clever corner found Smith at the edge of the box but the bar denied him a hattrick.
Lossie pulled one back through Dean Stewart who’s controlled instep effort curled away from the keeper and into the opposite bottom corner.
Scott Lislie was booked for a dive Tom Daley would’ve been proud of. The referee called it correctly as Lislie got up, accepted the decision and jogged back into position. Diving isn’t something anyone wants to see in football but I had to admire the audacity and distance he managed to throw himself.
He didn’t care all too much though as he scored the last goal of the game – a carbon copy of the opener, latching on to a through ball and rounding the goalkeeper again.
A competitive and entertaining match played in challenging conditions.

Full time: Formartine United 5-2 Lossiemouth

MOTM

Jonathan Smith was a real handful for Lossiemouth’s back line and his two goals coupled with his ability to hold up the ball and bring his team mates into the game is reason enough to take the award this time.
A professional and efficient performance.

Summary

A welcomed win for Formartine won by moments of quality going forward. Lossie can take some heart from the fact they weren’t outplayed but it wasn’t their day.
A goal fest is always welcome, especially when they’re split between the sides and I witnessed two teams actively looking to win a game of football – I enjoyed that.
Pitmedden is one of the smallest places I’ve visited so far and nowhere close is really accessible on foot so Formartine United likely play a big part in outsiders visiting the village on a Saturday afternoon.
When talking about groundhopping I often say ‘when would you visit these places if not for a game of football?’ and Pitmedden is a shining example. A lovely, yet small and isolated place to be but a real successful and enjoyable experience at North Lodge Park.

As the games go by I’m becoming more and more determined to win a half time draw. Maybe next time eh?

I enjoy a linesman that’ll give players a bit back.