Fraserburgh 1 - 4 Spartans: Henretty heroics put Spartans through

Published on Monday 26 October 2009 10:23

DONAL HENRETTY ran the Fraserburgh defence ragged and his two goals plus a breathtaking assist helped earn Spartans their passage to the third round of the Active Nation Scottish Cup.

The heavy rain and a strong wind coming off the North Sea helped the nimble and speedy Henretty, who constantly left defenders in his wake as he surged forward at every opportunity.

Spartans' fourth goal and Henretty's second was a classic example of his pace and ability. He picked up a loose ball in the centre circle and advanced towards the heart of the Fraserburgh defence. Keith McLeod made a run which took one defender out of commission and suddenly Henretty was through with only the goalkeeper to beat. Henretty pushed the ball past Paul Leask and from a tight angle and with defenders on the line he managed to squeeze the ball in at the back post.

"I was actually looking to pass the ball to Keith and suddenly the two defenders in front of me disappeared," said Henretty. "Then their goalkeeper came out quickly and made my mind up for me as to what I was going to do. I had to go round him and, although it was not my cleanest strike, the ball trundled over the line. I don't think it reached the net."

Spartans captain Stewart Fowlie won the toss and elected to play into the fierce gale and that proved to be a wise decision. After both sides had adapted to the tricky conditions, it was Spartans who took the lead in the tenth minute. Gavin Malin was fouled wide on the right and when Dean Hoskins fired over the in-swinging free-kick, Henretty met the ball at the near post and among a sea of bodies the ball suddenly appeared in the back of the net.

"I got a touch to the ball and was picking myself up off the ground when I saw it in the net," said Henretty. "I'm not sure how it got there but it was exactly the start we needed."

Spartans doubled their advantage only nine minutes later when a Hoskins left-footed corner from the right curled into the near post area where Steven Main, in attempting to clear the danger, only succeeded in helping the ball into his own net.

Spartans were dictating play and McLeod had a good effort blocked by Leask, Alex King tried to lob the goalkeeper then Henretty placed a shot only inches wide. Fraserburgh's best effort was a shot from Main which Spartans goalkeeper Chris Flockhart tipped on to the crossbar.

Spartans were pegged back early in the second half and when Kevin Sivewright conceded a free-kick 25 yards out, Main slipped the ball around the defensive wall behind the unsighted Flockhart.

Normal service was soon resumed when Henretty took off on a solo run from his own half and evaded numerous tackles before he fired over a low cross from the right. Malin touched the ball on to midfield Dynamo King who calmly stroked it home from 14 yards. A Fowlie blockbuster from 25 yards almost increased Spartans' lead before the scoring was completed with Henretty's wonder goal.

Sam Lynch, Spartans joint manager, said: "We are delighted to have travelled away from home against a top Highland League side and beaten them. I felt that we adapted better to the conditions and overall it was a great result."

Mike Lawson, the other half of the management team, added: "Apart from a ten-minute spell either side of half-time, I thought that we were in control of the game and deserved to win.

"There is no pressure on Spartans in the Scottish Cup although we would like to progress as far as we can."

Fraserburgh: Leask, Hay (Stephen, 25), McBride, Dickson, Ralph, Morrice (Conway, 60), Beagrie, West (Garden, 81), Hale, Johnston, Main. Subs: Duguid, Dickinson.

Spartans: Flockhart, Archibald, Fowlie, Gerrard (O'Donnell, 81), Sivewright, Malin, King, Manson (McAuley, 75), Henretty (Kader, 82), McLeod, Hoskins. Subs: Smith, Brown.

Referee: Greg Aitken.