YFS
You either win, or you learn. One week ago, Banchory were on the wrong end of a 9-1 defeat to Banks O'Dee Albion. This week, Banchory faced another top team in Fraserburgh Link-Up and came away with a big result.
A fantastic second half performance from Banchory Pumas Under 17s was enough for the Deeside outfit to come out on top and restore their position at the top of the ADJFA A League heading into Christmas and the new year against an enthusiastic Fraserburgh who played some fantastic football at times.
It was third vs first with both sides taking the league by surprise this season, which is refreshing to see. Both sides played good football in testing conditions. With a lot of games postponed in the area, the advantages of shelter at the 4G surface at Mintlaw Academy made a huge difference.
Both sides had half chances in the early exchanges of the game with Owen Blackhall seeing a shot over the bar for the Broch whilst Cameron Findlay had a good effort for Banchory also falling over the top of Andrew Dunbar's goal.
Fraserburgh Link-Up were getting into some very good areas during the first half, with plenty of opportunities at the Banchory rearguard. Fraser Gardyne has to be thanked for some superb saves which, in the end, dictated the outcome of the result. Glen Wyness had a shot tipped round the post by Gardyne before Caden Beaton had a shot denied by the big goalkeeper. Owen Blackhall also had an effort which went wide of the left hand post.
Banchory had a good chance to open the scoring when Nathan McKeown intercepted the ball from Billy Crockett and the talented forward tried to lob Dunbar, however a good stop from the talented forward denied McKeown.
Link-Up took the lead on 25 minutes, a fantastic ball came into a dangerous area which was met by Matthew Beaton, who struck the ball home from close range to give Broch the best possible start. For all their attacking intent, this was a deserved lead from Fraserburgh.
One of the best moves of the game was a Fraserburgh clearance by Glen Wyness taking four keepie ups before producing a good defensive clearance, the Broch went into the interval with a goal to the good however there wasn't too much between the teams with both teams serving up a pulsating encounter.