Formartine started well forcing a goal line clearance from Rothes after a corner allowed a close shot to be struck in the 4th minute meanwhile Rothes had a good shot put past the right hand post after a long kick from Stephen Dunn was met by trialist Garry Tweedie.  He struck it quickly but placed it wide.

In the 16th minute the referee awarded Formartine a penalty after Stuart McKay was tripped in the box. Marc Young stepped up and hit the ball low to the right of the goal but was met by Stevie Dunn's fingertips and saved.

Stuart McKay was again involved in play making a break through the middle of the Rothes defence and was only stopped by an excellent tackle from Mark Smith who was having a great game. In the 28th minute Rothes were awarded a free kick roughly 25 yards out. Mark Hector struck the ball with some power, forcing Formartine keeper Stewart Gray to fumble which lead to a scramble in the box.  The ball eventually fell to Michael Smith who blazed his shot over the bar.

The Formartine keeper again failed to hold the ball in the 40th minute after a whipped in cross from Kris Duncan who came on as a sub for Francis More in the 39th minute.

Stephen Dunn was again called into action after Kenneth Coull broke down the left playing a superb ball into the centre to his strike partner Stuart McKay who turned his man only to have his shot saved at the near post.

However a mix up in the Rothes defence led to another penalty to Formartine and the Rothes keeper seeing red; a poor header back was capitalised on by Stuart McKay who was pulled back by Dunn.

Substitute Robert Maitland stepped up but his attempt went flying over the bar. Pressure on the Rothes goal forced a fine save from 55th minute substitute keeper Willie Ridgers who tipped the ball around the post for a corner. However this merely delayed the opener 10 minutes as the one of the league's wiliest old foxes, Kenny Coull opened his account for it's newest club with a typical finish which was brought great delight from Formartine contingent in the stand and the sidelines.

Formartine's 3rd penalty of the game came with another trip in the box. This resulted in a goal for Kenny Coull and a red card for Kyle MacKay who obviously disagreed with the decision.

Rothes' best effort of the second half came in the form of a Kevin Shortreed thunderbolt from all of 35 yards out.  It seemed to have beaten Stewart Gray but he was rescued by the crossbar; it clearly wasn't the Speysiders day.

The game was basically over in the 80th minute when a corner to the back post was headed in by Stuart McKay to finish off a fine display and ensure the trip back to Pitmedden will be a memorable one.

Full Time: Rothes 0 Formartine United 3
Reporter: Andy Hall