Category Archives for "Season 21/22"

Sep 06

Newmachar Utd v Cruden Bay

Match Reports , Season 21/22

Newmachar Utd 4-3 Cruden Bay

Report to follow.

Full Time 4-3

NUFC Team – Mitchell, E Dryburgh, Black, Walton, Robertson, Young, Whelan, Tough (Forsyth), McMahon, Hardie (Wood), B Dryburgh (Gerrie).

Subs – Buckham, Wood, Gerrie, Forsyth, Reynolds, Cowie

We caught up with the gaffer and the match winner, Euan Dryburgh after the game to get their thoughts…

That’s a huge test we’ve come through today. After missing enough chances in the first half to put the game to bed, we find ourselves, for the first time in the league this season, going behind, and deservedly so. Massive credit to the lads though, they kept at it and got 2 quick goals to even it up and Euan’s winner, on his birthday is Roy of the Rovers stuff. While we take the positive of coming from behind and winning the game, we know the performance wasn’t anywhere near good enough. The goals we lost were poor and we need to be more clinical in front of goal.

Really happy to keep our unbeaten league start going. We showed we’ve got the mental strength and character to turn things around after going 2 goals down, plus grabbing the winner myself was a great way to celebrate my birthday.

Photos courtesy of Simon Robertson
Aug 24

Newmachar Utd v Glentanar

Match Reports , Season 21/22

Newmachar Utd 4-1 Glentanar

Report to follow.

Full Time 4-1

NUFC Team – Mitchell, E Dryburgh, Black, Walton, Dawson, Young, Cowie (Whelan), Tough (Wood), McMahon, Duthie, B Dryburgh.

Subs – Buckham, Wood, Robertson, Forsyth, Whelan

Photos courtesy of Simon Robertson
Aug 16

New Elgin v Newmachar Utd

Match Reports , Season 21/22

New Elgin 0-2 Newmachar Utd

Report to follow.

Full Time 0-2

NUFC Team – Mitchell, E Dryburgh, Black, Walton, Robertson, Young, Reynolds (Gerrie), Tough (Duthie), Whelan, McMahon, Hardie (Cowie).

Subs – Buckham, Wood, Dawson, Duthie, Gerrie, Cowie, B Dryburgh

Photos courtesy of Simon Robertson
Aug 01

Newmachar Utd v Forres Thistle

Match Reports , Season 21/22

Newmachar Utd 2-1 Forres Thistle

We welcomed one of our main challengers to Charlie’s with unbeaten records at stake. We had a full squad available apart from Dawson due to work commitments and Dylan Forsyth out with an ankle injury sustained at Whitehills.

Understandably the first half was a close affair with both teams trying to gain the advantage with very little between the teams. Mitchell was called into action within the first few minutes as the ball skidded into the path of the away forward and he shot from the edge of the box but Mitchell tipped it over the bar. The rest of the half was in the balance with very few chances created apart from long range efforts and tame shots that were gathered by both keepers.

HT 0-0

The second half was different as we took the game by the scruff of the neck and started being more productive in possession and breaking at a quicker tempo. Within the first few minutes we took the lead after a corner was cleared but it was collected by Walton who curled in a lovely cross met by Black who had stayed up and flicked a header into the far corner past the keeper to give us the lead.
We kicked on from this and we’re creating several chances to extend out our lead however Hardie had a shot comfortably saved by the away keeper, Bruce Dryburgh put a header over the bar when he was left unmarked in the middle of the box from a corner, Euan Dryburgh then burst from left back and beat a couple of players but he shot tamely at the keeper. Good link up play between McMahon and Hardie ended up with both players having shots saved and blocked and then a deflected shot by Hardie was cleared off the line.
We weren’t having it all our own way though as Forres were trying to get an equaliser but were falling short in the final third, however Mitchell had to be at his sharpest as he saved low from an angled drive and was then quick enough to get up and catch the rebound.
Man of the match, McMahon was causing problems for the away side’s right back and when he chested down a diagonal from Young he beat him, cut inside another defender in to the box but shot tamely at the keeper who palmed it away.
Tough then fired a shot right across the goal from the right side.
We almost gifted them an equaliser after Mitchell in goal took too long to get a back pass under control and the away forward put him under pressure and poked the ball past him but he managed to scramble back and saved the ball on the line.
Again both sides had half chances but on 38 minutes we deservedly stretched our lead when a cross from Euan Dryburgh was controlled by Tough, who kept good possession under pressure in the box and laid the ball back into the path of McMahon who curled a lovely low shot into the far corner.
We were looking comfortable in keeping a clean sheet however this was ruined as a driven corner from the right flew past everyone and ended up in the far corner of the net. We still had time to try and regain the two goal advantage but the keeper did well to stop a low shot after a great run by Tough and we held out for a great 3 points.

Full Time 2-1

NUFC Team – Mitchell, E Dryburgh, Black, Walton, Young, Reynolds (Stewart), Tough, Whelan, McMahon, Hardie (Wood), B Dryburgh (Gerrie)

Subs – Buckham, Wood, Stewart, Duthie, Davidson, Gerrie, Robertson

We caught up with the gaffer and ex Forres Thistle striker, Chris Hardie after the game to get their thoughts…

Another big 3 points against a team tipped to be at the top end of the table come May. They’re a good side and probably should’ve taken the lead in the first minute. I felt we didn’t really get going first half and probably tried to force it long to Matty too much which becomes predictable but second half, we upped the tempo and shortened the passing and took control of the game. We’re creating a lot of chances which is pleasing and if we’re a bit more ruthless in front of goal, we aren’t going into the last 10 minutes of the game under a bit of pressure. But that said, the character the lads showed to see it out is pleasing too.

Pleased to get the 3 points. First 5 games unbeaten which represents a great start and allows us to go into the upcoming run of cup games full of confidence. Forres are always an experienced side and i felt we more than matched them and deserved the 3 points. We are creating lots of chances which is encouraging but we need to be more clinical in front of goal, myself included, to put games to bed earlier. I was delighted for Jimmer to get the second goal, he caused them problems all day and got the goal his performance deserved

Photos courtesy of Simon Robertson
Jul 28

Glentanar v Newmachar Utd

Match Reports , Season 21/22

Glentanar 1-2 Newmachar Utd

We travelled to Woodside to play the home side who had started with two wins out of two on their travels so knew it was going to be a tough game.

For another game we started slowly and Glentanar had the first couple of opportunities but Mitchell saved comfortably and the shot went wide. We then took control of the game and dominated for the rest of the half however the woodwork was hit 3 times from shots from McMahon, Tough and Gerrie and the home keeper made 3 cracking saves from Wood, Tough and McMahon again to deny us.
However we did make the breakthrough in the 37th minute when after another corner birthday boy David Black celebrated in style by bulleting a header past the home keeper from a E Dryburgh corner. We could not build on this and only went in at the break one up.
HT 0-1
We started okay in the second half but after only 7 minutes of the second half the home side were awarded a penalty after Walton was beaten by the centre half and as he tried to track him into the box he tripped and put his hand on the players back who went down. The home forward slotted the ball past Mitchell.
Within 5 minutes the home side were reduced to 10 men when the centre back was shown a harsh red card for a tackle on Gerrie as he tried to recover from losing the ball in the middle of the park.
We had a lot of possession however struggled to break down the home team and were sloppy in the final third when opportunities arose. The home side were scrapping for everything and showing a great attitude. Although it was scrappy we did get the opportunity to win the game when in the 83rd minute Hardie was adjudged to have been tackled from behind as he tried to control the ball in the box. Soft it may have been but contact there was so Tough took the responsibility for the penalty and he sent the keeper the wrong way to put us 2-1 up. We held out for a valuable 3 points.
We just did enough to get the win in the end, however if we were more clinical in the first half it would not have been so nervy in the second half but credit to Glentanar who kept on battling even when they went down to 10 men.
We keep the unbeaten run going

Full Time 2-1

NUFC Team – Mitchell, E Dryburgh (Blanksky), Black, Walton, Robertson, Young, Gerrie (Duthie), Tough, Wood (Hardie), McMahon, B Dryburgh.

Subs – Buckham, Blanksky, Duthie, Davidson, Hardie

We caught up with the gaffer and the birthday boy, Davie Black after the game to get their thoughts…

It’s another massive 3 points and shows the character of this group of players. We really should’ve had the game dead and buried with the clear cut chances but find ourselves at 1-1 in the 85th minute. We kept asking questions and got our reward with Matty sticking the penalty away. Fair play to Glentanar, they stuck at it until the last minute but it’s a lesson in taking our chances. I think we hit the bar, post twice, at least 3 great saves from Euan Rose in their goals and a few more big chances we really should be sticking away.

Delighted to keep the unbeaten run going. In truth, the game should’ve probably been out of sight in the first half with us hitting the bar, post and the keeper pulling off some great saves. The pen let them back in but the boys kept the heads down and were superb in pushing on to get the winner.

Photos courtesy of Simon Robertson
Jul 28

Newmachar Utd v Burghead Thistle

Match Reports , Season 21/22

Newmachar Utd 4-1 Burghead Thistle

We welcomed Burghead to a warm Charlie’s for our first home game of the season.

We started off slowly and Burghead had a couple of chances in the opening few minutes when Mitchell saved comfortably from a shot from the edge of the box and then a last ditch tackle from Robertson deflected another shot just past the post.

We then found our feet and created a few chances including a Whelan long range effort that went wide with the keeper off his line, he then had a shot blocked after he had followed up a McMahon cross come shot that had been saved by the away keeper.

McMahon then had a couple of headers that he put wide from about 6 yards. We did eventually take the lead after 27 minutes when McMahon was tripped in the box as he got to the ball first. He stepped up and scored his second penalty in 2 games by putting the goalkeeper the wrong way.

We kept on going but the half ended with us being 1 up.

HT 1-0

We started the second half at a better tempo and it was no surprise that we increased our lead after a good passing move found Young 25 yards out and he strode forwards and hit a shot from 20 yards that went in off the right post.
We stretched our lead again just before the half hour when after a good passing move the ball was played out to Tough who beat his man and then once into the box he cut the ball across the box and when McMahon’s shot was blocked Reynolds pounced and drilled the ball past the keeper.
There was not much more real chances as both teams cancelled each other out.
In the 40th minute the away side scored after a speculative cross found the far right corner of the goal.
A couple of minutes later we restored our 3 goal lead when Reynolds took a free kick on the right and Young made a good run to the front post and he flicked the ball past the away keeper.
We managed to see out the final minutes.

Full Time 4-1

NUFC Team – Mitchell, E Dryburgh, Black, Walton, Robertson, Young, Gerrie (Reynolds), Tough, Whelan, McMahon (Davidson), B Dryburgh (Wood).

Subs – Buckham, Wood, Blanksky, Duthie, Davidson, Reynolds

We caught up with the gaffer and the captain, Davie Black after the game to get their thoughts…

Obviously delighted to get the 3 points. Another 4 goals and probably should’ve had a couple more but we’ll take it. We’ve not played particularly well and with a very sloppy start we were fortunate not to go behind. Burghead had a couple great opportunities to score through our sloppy passing. I felt we upped the tempo a bit in the second half and looked dangerous going forward. It’s more experience into our young side. Not every game will go to plan and sometimes you need to find a way to get over the line when you’re not playing that well and they’ve done that today.

First & foremost getting the 3 points was the main aim and we did. First half was a bit stop start and we didn’t really get into a rhythm. Was a much improved 2nd half and we were ruthless when we needed to be. Still plenty room for improvement but the signs are there.

Photos courtesy of Simon Robertson
Jul 21

Rothie Rovers v Newmachar Utd

Match Reports , Season 21/22

Rothie Rovers 1-1 Newmachar Utd

We travelled to Rothienorman to play Rothie Rovers for the first time in Junior football and thus creating our own Aberdeenshire local derby.

We were still missing skipper Davie Black, Greg Wood & Callum Stewart but welcomed back Stevo Young and the Dryburgh brothers.

The game kicked off and Rothie dominated the game as they started on the front foot and at a quick tempo we struggled to contend with and couldn’t keep any real possession in the opening 15 minutes.

Mitchell had to be at his best to save a shot from their forward and then Dawson put his body on the line and blocked the follow up shot.

We were awarded a penalty against the run of play when the home defender handled the ball above his head on the bye line under pressure from McMahon, who then stepped up and expertly smashed it past the home keeper.

We then could have went further ahead when Hardie saw a snap shot from 25 yards just go wide.

We took heart from this but Rothie were still the better side without really causing too much problems until we put ourselves under pressure with some slack passes along the back that was snapped on by the home forward and although his first shot was saved by Mitchell it wasn’t cleared and he got another chance to shoot and this time it ended up in the net after it was deflected past Mitchell by Dawson as he tried to block the shot.

The rest of the half was quite even with both sides creating half chances but none were taken.

Half Time 1-1

The second half was a good old fashioned game as both teams tried to look for the winner but most of the play was breaking down in the final third as crosses went astray and shots went high or wide.

We thought we had won it with 20 minutes to go when Dawson scored with a header from a corner but the referee saw an infringement in the box and chalked it off to everyone’s disbelief.

We then took more control of the game for the final 15 minutes and created a couple of good chances with the home keeper pulling off a good save from McMahon and then another from Watt. There was still time for the home side to snatch it as the home forward beat the offside trap but a great tackle from the retreating Young saved the day.

A good competitive game between the teams and although disappointed with only a point after our goal was disallowed but it means we have got off to a good start to the season and this performance showed that we can battle and dig in for points as it wasn’t our best performance possession wise but credit to Rothie who played at a high tempo and closed us down quickly.

Full Time 1-1

NUFC Team – Mitchell, E Dryburgh, Walton, Dawson, Young, Watt, Tough, Whelan, McMahon, Reynolds, Hardie.

Subs – Buckham, Gerrie, Blanksky, Robertson, Davidson, B Dryburgh

We caught up with the gaffer and the vice captain, Stevo Young after the game to get their thoughts…

It was a tough night for us in terms of trying to keep the ball with the tempo of Rothie’s press on the tight pitch, but other than a spell leading up to their goal where we put ourselves under real pressure with some sloppy passing, i thought we dealt with it really well. You’re not always going to get time on the ball and our young boys will learn from playing in games like that and dealing with the physical side of the game too. All that said, i felt we created the better chances and from that probably should’ve won the game, especially when you watch Muz’ header back and see it’s a perfectly good goal and should’ve stood.

But we’ll take the point away from home against a good side who i don’t think will drop many points at home this season. A big strong physical side with a lot of experience, Rothie will be a credit to the north region juniors both on and off the park.

I’m impressed with a very good set up at Rothie and the committee have done a fantastic job however i was surprised at the size of the pitch which was very tight and didn’t suit our style of play. Their high press caught a few of our younger players by surprise but i thought we defended well and limited them to long range efforts. 1-1 is probably a fair result but in my mind it’s 2 points dropped.

Photos courtesy of Simon Robertson
Jul 18

Whitehills v Newmachar Utd

Match Reports , Season 21/22

Whitehills 2 v 7 Newmachar Utd

We travelled up to Banffshire for our opening game of the season on a warm but windy day by the coast, missing club captain, Davie Black, vice captain, Stevo Young, the Dryburgh brothers, Greg Wood and Callum Stewart.

Ryan Whelan captained the side on his competitive debut for the club and it got off to the perfect start with a goal after only 2 minutes when Tough outpaced the home defence clipped the ball past the goalkeeper and slid it into the net.

Machar were in control of the game but the home side had a couple of chances when they had hit the crossbar from a long range wind assisted shot and then Mitchell saved a header with his feet. We had created a few chances but failed to convert them until the 23rd minute when Robertson headed in a Walton corner.

We then went further ahead when Gerrie got onto the end of a clever lofted cross by Tough after he had beat a couple of home players on the flank. Gerrie had the ball in the net again but he was adjudged to be offside.

Half Time 0-3

We took control of the second half from the kick off and Tough extended our lead in the 55th minute which was then added to 10 minutes later when Watt who had replaced Whelan drove a shot into the net after a Robertson free kick was parried away by the keeper.

We then lost our way for 5 minutes when firstly the home side scored from the penalty spot after a Tough handball. The home side then got a quick second when their forward headed past Mitchell from close range after a cross field cross.

But we stretched our lead almost instantly when McMahon drilled a shot past the advancing keeper after a great through pass from Reynolds and two minutes later Hardie scored after a quick break and pass from Tough put him through on goal and he made no mistake from 10 yards.

We saw the game out but still had time to miss another couple of chances including Forsyth hitting the bar from close range.

Full Time 2-7

A great start with some good team goals and all of the front 3 getting off the mark, and young Mitchell, Duthie and Davidson making their competitive debuts for the Club.

NUFC Team – Mitchell, Duthie, Walton, Robertson, Dawson, Gerrie (Davidson), Tough, Whelan (Watt), McMahon (Forsyth), Reynolds, Hardie.

Subs – Buckham, Forsyth, Blanksky, Watt, Davidson, Wood

We caught up with the gaffer and then the stand in skipper, Ryan Whelan after the game to get their thoughts…

We were looking for a quick goal and couldn’t have asked for anymore with Matty putting us ahead in 2 minutes. I felt we were in control for the majority of the game and kept good possession on a fiery surface. Disappointing to lose the second goal which takes the shine off it a bit and some small lapses in concentration put us under a bit of pressure at times but other than a handful, we’re a young team and those wee mistakes will happen. Great to see the front 3 all getting off the mark and others chipping in with goals too. I thought the whole team were solid and especially young Josh, always looking to get on the ball and Muz at the back never really put a foot wrong. As everyone else, i’m delighted to be back in competitive action and get the 3 points from a tricky away fixture.

It was great to finally be back playing competitive football again. I thought we were excellent from minute 1 and had a great start, then controlled the game really well from then on, on a fiery pitch. Few things to improve on but all in all a great team performance.

Photos courtesy of Simon Robertson
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