Report

GARIOCH OFF TO FLIER IN LEAGUE

West Garioch got their league campaign off to a flying start with a convincing win in the end at the Broch despite going two goals down.
Garioch were without Ally Ness in the centre of their defence with Bryce Davidson stepping back to fill the void.
The Broch had the first chance of the game when a Broch forward broke clear of his markers for a one-on-one with keeper Lewis Helme with the big Garioch stopper coming out on top.
Then at the other end a Davidson header flashed over the crossbar from a Sean Bremner corner.
Garioch had a big shout for a penalty in 20 minutes when Callum McRitchie appeared to be pole-axed in the box but the referee waved play on.
McRitchie and Josh Boyle then both tested the Broch keeper before Boyle took a pass from Ally Beattie in the middle of the park to unleash a great drive but the keeper got his fingertips to the ball and pushed it over the crossbar.
McRitchie was getting some rough treatment from the heavyweight Broch rearguard and had to leave the field injured after a heavy challenge with Stuart Kenn coming on to replace him.
The home side stepped up the pressure in the closing stages of the first half and took the lead in 40 minutes when a forward latched on to a high ball and poked it home past Helme.
Straight from the kick-off Garioch found themselves two down. The Broch won the ball and went right up the park and forced a corner which was then headed into the net with no real challenge from the Garioch defence.
Garioch got a lifeline right on 45 minutes when substitute Kenn broke down the right and delivered a great cross low and hard into the box and a Broch defender running towards goal pushed the ball into his own net.
The home side were still dangerous in injury time and Helme had to push a free kick over the top of his crossbar before producing another great stop after the ball was headed towards goal from a corner again.

Half-time 2-1

Garioch got off to a dream start in the second period. Sean Bremner started the move after just four minutes and sent Boyle on a run towards goal. He then laid the ball off to Ally BEATTIE who struck it low and hard into the corner of the net.
Garioch coach Sandy Bremner made some tactical changes at this point in an effort to win the game. Lewis Greenhowe came on for Sean Bremner with Davidson moving into his favourite role in midfield and Beattie going back into central defence.
This paid off immediately and the visitors were in front for the first time in the game in 69 minutes. Good play in front of goal resulted in the ball coming out to BOYLE on the edge of the box and he rifled the ball home to make it 3-2.
A minute later Garioch were two in front. Garioch were awarded a free kick right on the edge of the 18-yard box in a central position and Ross DINGWALL stepped up and found the net with a great strike.
Boyle had a great chance to score his second in 77 minutes when he was right through on goal with only the keeper to beat but pulled his shot wide.
Then Greenhowe went close with a tremendous drive that saw the ball fly over the crossbar.
GREENHOWE did get on the scoresheet with eight minutes of the game remaining. An Andi Bremner attempt on the left struck the post and the ball came back out to the Garioch substitute striker who made no mistake.
Craig Roberts came on for Tom McRobbie in the last five minutes and Davidson set him up with a chance in the dying minutes but the ball went narrowly wide.
Garioch coach Sandy Bremner felt it was not the best of starts by his team who, he said, were giving Fraserburgh far too much room early on. "I was glad when half-time came and we got the players motivated. It did the trick and we fought back well, finding the net four times."