Dyce F.C. Welcome Formartine United to Ian Mair Park for first round action in the Morrison Motors Aberdeenshire Shield. This season’s edition begins a month later than the last, which was won by Banks o’ Dee against Aberdeen ‘B’ at Balmoral last December.

Dyce are the only Junior side in the first round of the shield, with fellow North Region Premiership team Hermes given a bye to the quarter finals. They come into tonight’s fixture on fine form, being one of four unbeaten teams in the Junior Premiership and one of just twelve in the entire Scottish pyramid. Their 6-0 dismantling of Colony Park in the John Reilly Memorial Trophy last weekend will give Allan Youngson all the confidence he needs tonight.

Formartine have struggled with consistency recently, albeit against tough opponents. Tonight is a big game for manager Stuart Anderson, who will look to ease the pressure from himself and his team with a positive result tonight. They come off a 3-1 defeat against Brechin at Glebe Park.

Referee Mark Bolton got the match underway, where Formatine quicky got off the mark. They managed early chances through Luke Strachan and captain Graeme Rodger, who didn’t quite manage to test Dyce keeper Morgan Cook.

Formartine continued to have most of the possession, with Dyce limited to counterattacks to get forward. Guilherme Barbosa split the Formartine defense in the 24th minute before releasing Fergus Alberts who was eventually crowded out, in what was Dyce’s best chance of the half.

The tackles were flying in across the park and tempers soon boiled over in the 26th minute, with yellows awarded to Barbosa and Jonathan Crawford for their involvement in the scuffle.

Last season’s Highland League top goalscorer Julian Wade struggled to make much of an impact- his best attempt well saved in the 33rd minute. Formartine ended the half with a flurry of corners but couldn’t make them count.

Dyce started the second half with intent, managing an early positive spell, coming close through Ryan McLean on the 50th minute. Formartine then had a golden opportunity to take the lead on the 58th minute, but Rodger passed his shot wide after being played clean through on goal.

Formartine keeper Ewen MacDonald made his first save of the game in the 63rd minute, showing good awareness to tip Michael Taylor’s shot around the post.

An awkward through ball on the 69th minute forced the Dyce keeper to gamble, but the referee deemed his clearance got more man than ball, and awarded a  penalty to the visitors to the dismay of the Dyce dugout. Crawford stepped up and skied his effort over the bar. 

The deadlock was eventually broken on the 73rd minute, when Aidan Combe received the ball with space on the right of the box. His composed shot curled past the keeper to give Formartine the lead at a time where Dyce started to command the game.

Dyce had to go for it as time ran out, stretching the game and allowing Formartine the chance to kill it. Despite a frantic ending, no more goals were scored and Formartine held on to a hard fought victory.

Full time: Dyce 0-1 Formartine

Elsewhere tonight Deveronvale beat Banks o’ Dee at Spain Park, Buckie Thistle eliminate Huntly at Victoria Park, and Inverurie Locos will wait till next Wednesday to play the Young Dons, due to their match against Puskas Akademia in the UEFA Youth League.