Monday 4 October
Fraserburgh 2 Huntly 1
There was a vast improvement by Huntly's youngsters since their last outing with the performance they put on against Fraserburgh in this Highland Youth League game at Bellslea Park on Monday night when they deserved a share of the points for their determination alone, writes Alex. Bremner.

Fraserburgh almost took the lead right from the kick-off when Brian Hay broke through and sent the ball over for John Ross to drive narrowly over the bar.

Huntly broke to the home end for Craig Maxwell to go clear only for Calum McRobb to come quickly off his line and block his shot.

Grant Pennet was by far the busier 'keeper in the opening stages and when Brian Hay got clear to send the ball over, he had to dive smartly down at his left-hand post to smother it at the feet of Muir Murray.
There was danger for Huntly when Lee McGregor handled the ball just outside his own penalty box when Graham Johnston sent it through, with the visitors' defensive wall blocking the drive from Graham Johnston.

In one of Huntly's quick breaks, they were awarded a free kick when Kyle Coutts was brought down but when Lee McGregor sent the ball into the home goalmouth it was mis-kicked by Robert English when he was left with a good opening to score in the scramble which followed.
Robert English was prominent when he went clear and set Craig Maxwell up with an opening only to fire the ball into the side-netting.

Fraserburgh were striving hard to get the opener and it almost came when Dean Elrick fired in a shot off a corner from Ross Walker which Brian Higgins cleared off the goal-line.

Another free kick for Huntly gave Lee McGregor an opening to fire in a ferocious drive which Calum McRobb held at the second attempt.

With 44 minutes gone, however, James Watt took John Ross down inside the Huntly box with Graham Johnston making no mistake from the resultant penalty.

Half-time: Fraserburgh 1 Huntly 0

Playing with the wind behind them in this half, Fraserburgh went straight into the attack, with Muir Murray being caught offsides when Ross Cardno split the Huntly defence with a through ball.
There was a let-off for Huntly when Graham Johnston gained the advantage when the ball rebounded off the referee, with his drive at goal going narrowly past.

Huntly hit back quickly and when Paul Winton found Stuart Allan with a super pass the move was ended when the latter was tripped just outside the box, with his drive from the free kick being blocked.

When Stuart Allan broke through again minutes later, however, he was again sent flying, but this time he sent his brilliant curling drive into the net off the underside of the crossbar for the equaliser in 59 minutes.

Fraserburgh broke straight to the Huntly end when the game restarted with Ross Cardno being sent clear to go all the way to give Grant Pennet no chance and restore their lead in 61 minutes.

Both sides were fighting hard and when Paul Winton sent the ball through to Owen Nicol, there was no hesitation by James Pirie in hitting the ball past for a corner to stop the danger.

When Dean Elrick broke through in a great run for Fraserburgh only to be stopped by Robert English, Huntly broke quickly to the other end from the latter's clearance with Mark McKay driving wildly past when left with a good opening.
Fraserburgh were then awarded a free kick just outside the Huntly box with Grant Pennet going bravely down at the feet of Dean Elrick when he ran on to the ball when it was sent in by James Pirie.

With the game going into stoppage time, Grant Pennet was Huntly's saviour in preventing the home side from scoring again when first he blocked a thundering drive from Muir Murray and then, when the ball rebounded to Ross Cardno, he dived full length to touch the ball on to a post, and finally made a third brilliant block when Muir Murray again sent the ball back in off this rebound.