| Fort celebrate ending a two year wait for a win |
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Fort William won their first match since September 22nd 2007 (a 4-2 defeat of Rothes) and for the first time on the road since the 2006-2007 campaign, coming from a goal down to defeat Turriff United by the odd goal in three.
Sean Ellis had the first effort on target for the visitors and his 22 yard drive forced Ross Buchanon into a diving save. Grant Noble then headed wide from 6 yards following a pinpoint Darren McAllister cross before Fort keeper Garry Macleod was brought into action, blocking a Dave McKenzie header on the line following a corner. Fort were competing well in the appalling conditions and the lively Ellis sent a 25 yard free kick just wide. With 26 minutes on the clock the breakthrough arrived in the form of a goal for Turriff. Craig Morrison got free on the left and he pulled the ball back for Grant Noble who slotted the ball beyond Garry Macleod from 14 yards. Fort battled back and within four minutes they were level when Mike Gillespie produced a low shot from the edge of the box which flew Buchanon failed to deal with, the ball trickling into the net. The home side could have gone ahead just before the break but for Fort keeper Garry Macleod who brilliantly tipped a Paul Munro piledriver from the edge of the box up and over the bar. Into the second half and an almighty scramble in the Fort William box saw Robbie Allan's close range shot cleared off the line by Simon Shields before keeper Macleod blocked the rebound from Craig Morrison. Fort took full advantage of this let off by going up the park to net their second in the 58th minute. Jonathan Hewitt challenged keeper Ross Buchanon 25 yards from goal and when the ball broke back off the keeper Richard Finnis lifted the ball into an empty net from 30 yards. The visiting keeper Garry Macleod was having and inspired afternoon and he superbly blocked a Craig Morrison effort when the striker was clean through on goal. Then he produced a wonder save to keep out a Robbie King effort which looked destined to level up the scores. With the defensive positions well fortified the visitors then created a chance to put the game out of sight. Michael Milligan broke through the Turriff defence but he was denied by the diving Buchanon who saved low to his right. It meant that there was to be no 3easy route to the victory for the Fort but any route was a good one as they ended a run of almost 750 days without a win!
Full Time: Turriff United 1 Fort William 2 |