I dont mention Marco much, but here's the full report I sent Grant from last night:
Turriff United 2 Huntly 5
Huntly travelled to The Haughs in Turriff for the latest pre-season friendly against Turriff United from the Junior’s North Division One East. With Billy Anderson unavailable due to work commitments, his Assistant Mike Cormack took charge of the team and made only one change from the side that played so well against St Johnstone in the team’s previous friendly fixture – Anthony Henry coming in for the unavailable Simon Scott. Turriff included ex-Highland League forwards Leigh Henderson and Craig Stewart in their starting eleven.
It was the home team who were first to attack, but L Henderson’s swerving cross flew over the bar.
In the second minute, Alan Redford did well to get in a cross from the right which found Derek Craigie, but he place his shot high over the bar.
Two minutes later Gordon Farmer did well to run on to a Russell Guild through-ball, but the shot went just inches over the bar.
In the sixth minute Jerry O’Driscoll latched onto a long-ball from Anthony Henry just inside the box, but yet again the Huntly player shot over the bar.
In the ninth minute, Barry Thompson’s long goal-kick found Russell Guild who drove forward unchallenged before sending in a great shot which Paul Bennett did well to save.
Huntly won the first corner of the match in the thirteenth minute, but when Farmer sent the corner in, O’Driscoll sent the ball over the bar with a free header at the near-post.
In seventeen minutes Andy Matheson was upended in the D by L Henderson. Craigie took the kick, but placed it narrowly round the left-hand post.
Huntly finally got the goal their pressure deserved in the twentieth minute. Farmer delivered a great corner which found O’Driscoll on the edge of the 6-yard-box and unchallenged he headed home past Bennett.
Just two minutes later, and Huntly nearly extended their lead when an O’Driscoll cross was headed just over the bar by Turriff’s Ian Bruce back-tracking to defend.
Mark Gray was next to test Bennett, in the 24th minute, but the athletic keeper got down to save well.
Turriff had rarely attacked the Huntly box, but in the 26th minute got back on level terms when Craig Stewart shook off the challenge of Dave Henderson and shot strongly past Thompson with a great finish.
Huntly had a Penalty appeal waved away in the 29th minute when Bennett brought down O’Driscoll inside the box, injuring himself in the process but referee Allan gave only a goal kick.
In the 34th minute the home team took the lead. A long-pass from Steven Wight was well controlled by Mark Robertson who calmly slotted past Thompson.
Huntly had a second penalty appeal dismissed by the referee in the 36th minute when Stuart Barclay sent Farmer flying inside the box, but again the referee judged a goal kick – but did allow Farmer treatment for the knock.
Two minutes later bad defending gave Craigie space to drive in from the right and shoot from the edge of the box, but the shot went just over the bar.
In 41 minutes L Henderson dribbled past Guild before sending Steve Whitecross off on the left side, and his cross found C Stewart who cracked a shot off the bar.
However, Huntly deservedly got back on level terms just a minute before the interval when Matheson skipped over a challenge by Whitecross before passing in to Guild who shot well to the keeper’s left into the net. Right on the half-time whistle a Matheson cross was headed goal-bound by Bruce, but Bennett held well to prevent a crazy own-goal.
(Half Time: Turriff United 2 Huntly 2)
In the 47th minute Bruce fouled O’Driscoll in a dangerous position on the edge of the box. Craig took the kick, and his strong effort was spilled by the keeper but the ball was cleared.
A minute later Gary McGowan, on as a half-time substitute ran in past Barry Massie before passing back to Dick Shanks but he sent a shot well over the bar.
Huntly took the lead for the second time in 55 minutes. Guild fed Graham Green with a great pass, and he shook off the challenge of Wight before shooting high past Bennett from close range.
Almost straight from the kick-off L Henderson was straight through with only Thompson to beat, but he shot well wide.
In 59 minutes a long-ball from Shanks was found by Ritchie Craig on the left who ran in-field past Barclay and scored well past the keeper.
Thompson was rarely tested in the second half, but was forced into action on the hour, when C Stewart shot from long-range, however Thompson held well.
There was yet another Huntly penalty claim shortly after when McGowan was horrendously upended by Bruce in the box, but play continued.
In the 64th minute Huntly furthered their lead with a great attack. Craig found Green with a long pass on the right he then sent the ball into the middle which was picked up by Shanks who fired a great shot high past the keeper.
In the 65th minute a McGowan free kick was spilled to the feet of the unsuspecting Andy Low, but his effort found only the side netting.
In the 71st minute McGowan’s shot from the edge of the box was nervously fisted off the line by Bennett.
Turriff won their first corner in the 79th minute, and when the ball came in Massie rose unchallenged, but headed over the bar.
In the 84th minute there was more promising attacking from Huntly when Andy Low made a great run down the left, passing to Green, who in turn passed back to Low who ran in-field, then shot but the keeper did well to palm the ball round the post and out for a corner.
In the 85th minute Martin Stewart, in his first game since sustaining an injury at Wick three months ago, nearly capped a great night with a goal. After a 1-2 with Shanks, Stewart shot from just inside the box, but again the keeper dropped the ball to Low, who again shot wide.
Three minutes from time M Stewart was again unlucky. After a goalmouth scramble in which Low and Shanks both had efforts blocked by defenders, Stewart fired just over the bar.
Right on full-time McGowan fired a great shot just wide from the right.
Player Ratings
Turriff United Huntly
Paul Bennett 8 1 Barry Thompson 7
Barry Massie 6 2 Alan Redford 7
Steven Wight 7 3 Anthony Henry 6
Ian Bruce 5 4 Alan Stephen 8
Stuart Barclay 6 5 David Henderson 9
Steve Whitecross 6 6 Russell Guild 8
Paul Stewart 5 7 Gordon Farmer 7
Leigh Henderson 7 8 Mark Gray 8
Duncan Chalmers 6 9 Jerry O’Driscoll 7
Craig Stewart 8 10 Derek Craigie 6
Mark Robertson 8 11 Andy Matheson 8
Substitutions
Les Lobban (Robertson 61) 5 12 Ritchie Craig (Matheson 45) 7
Martin McLeod (Whitecross 74) 3 14 Gary McGowan (Craigie 45) 8
John Anderson (Wight 69) 6 15 Andy Low (O’Driscoll 55) 7
16 Graham Green (Farmer 52) 6
17 Richard Shanks (Gray 45) 8
18 Martin Stewart (De Barros 74) 7
19 Marco De Barros (Guild 61) 2
Referee: S. Allan 5 (in Green)
speaking to Flash following the St Johnstone game he said he was still haveing a bit of bother following an injury picked up at Rothienorman.
Knowing Flash, this probably affected his play on Wednesday thus resulting in a substitution.
Sorry Inspector,
from what I remember, Marco went on and then didnt perform too well. Martin Stewart had told me & Alec B pre-match that he wasnt coming on but then he did come on for Marco who came off looking in a lot of pain so I assume it's an injury recurrence. Unlikely to play on saturday I'd say.
Hope that clears it up for you. & enjoy reading Alec's report (I will!)
a.h
p.s-my report has been sent to the Turriff Advertiser - watch the back page!?
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