Saturday 8 April
Huntly 0 Fraserburgh 2

Two second half goals saw Fraserburgh leave Christie Park with all three points as Huntly dropped out of the top four for the first time since January writes Grant Turner.

Ryan Christie returned for the Broch in place of the injured Gavin Wemyss while Huntly gave a first start to Karl Farrimond, their January signing from Deveronvale.

Within 3 minutes of the opening whistle there were chances at both ends.
From a Matt Gairns cross Russell Guild hit a shot that was well saved by Michael Thomson then at the other end Ryszard Gorski made a good reflex save after a shot from Graham Johnston.

The home defence were caught out in the 16th minute when a ball over the top was met by Russell McBride only for the forward to fire his first time effort wide of the post.

There was a blow for Huntly when Ross Campbell aggravated an injury that saw him miss the last match and he was replaced by Neil Reid.

Five minutes later, Matty Gairns got into space before crossing into Karl Farrimond at the back post but the youngster's header failed to trouble Thomson in the Broch goal.

Just before the hour Lee McGregor was beaten by Graham Johnston who then set up Russell McBride who struck a shot against the post from the edge of the area.

Huntly kept up the pressure on the visitor's defence and Jerry O'Driscoll broke clear on the right to pick out strike partner Richard Craig only the edge of the area. Craig laid off to the on-rushing Farrimond only for the winger to get pulled up for a foul on Ryan Christie before he could get a shot on goal.

A minute from the break the woodwork came to Huntly's rescue once again when a set piece enticed Derek Milne forward and he rattled the bar with a header before heading a second effort on the rebound that was saved by the home keeper.

Half Time: Huntly 0 Fraserburgh 0

Within a minute of the restart, Farrimond found Craig with a neat pass who in turn played through O'Driscoll on the left flank. O'Driscoll's cross was head back across goal by Craig for Russell Guild who shot straight at the keeper but the flag was already up for an offside against Craig.

Three minutes late, Alan Redford was booked for a foul that lead to a Graham Johnston free kick what was curled over the wall but a great flying save by Ryszard Gorski kept the score level.

Fraserburgh went ahead in the 56th minute when Derek Milne went down very softly in the box and referee Paul Cheyne awarded the spot kick. Graham Johnston took the spot kick and confidently placed it to the keeper's bottom right hand corner for his 11th goal of the season.

The black and gold's went looking for a leveller and came close when Craig's shot forced Thomson into a save following a Guild header forward.

Huntly defender Alan Redford made a great tackle to deny William West who had went on a solo run having skipped past a couple of players before being dispossessed.

The match was effectively won in the 69th minute with Russell McBride adding to his tally by slotting the ball home at the back post after sub Michael Stephen had beaten his man on the left and drilled in a low cross.

With two minutes remaining, Stephen's corner from the left was met by the head of Ryan Christie and looked to be heading in at the back post only for Gorski to turn the ball round the post.

Both teams continued to battle away as the match drifted to a close with the best chance of the dying stages falling for Michael Stephen who, inexplicable blasted the ball over the crossbar with the goal at his mercy a minute from time.