Bellslea Park, Fraserburgh
After almost 4 years of watching Highland League football, I finally made the long awaited trip to Fraserburgh for the League cup semi final. The winners of this tie would face either Rothes or Nairn in the final and with all due respect to both those teams, the winners of this tie would fancy their chances to win the whole tournament. I was worried we were going to miss the start of the game because of leaving late but when you get on the road up to Ellon, it doesn't take too long to arrive. We were unfortunate to be held up by a lorry that was in no hurry but I guess we should have left earlier. We got there and heard the whistle go, so must have missed about 2 minutes at most. 
The ground itself is actually nicer than first seeing it as you pass by it on the main road. The pitch looked in excellent condition, there was a large stand holding around 300-400, possibly more and there was a large area at the other sideline for spectators to stand. The area was on a tilt which was a bonus in seeing the action. I got myself a pie and bovril and both were really good, no complaints so far.
The first half produced a little amount of clear cut chances for either side. It started off with Cove having the majority of possession and their best chance fell to Danny Milne whose shot from 7 yards went straight into the keepers arms. He really should have done better but there was plenty of time to make up for it. The next chance fell to Cove Captain Eric Watson, his header looped over Paul Leask but unfortunately the bar too. The first half gradually grew old and the Broch were getting more into the game. They were playing a lot of long high balls over the Cove defence but it was coming to no good as Stuart McKenzie was claiming them all. They did trouble Stuart though towards the end of the half. Marc Dickson latched onto a Graham Johnston pass and his smart volley at goal was well handled by Stuart McKenzie and that was to be the last action of the half. A pretty dire first half but hopefully it was all going to change.
Second half was unfortunately, just as bad. Both teams were playing long balls with no success and it was not pretty to watch. Cove were not playing to their standards and they just couldn't get a real break at goal. Fraserburgh really should have taken the lead on the hour mark when William West controlled the ball in the box with no one challenging but he lifted the ball too high and wasted the opportunity. Eric Watson had the chance to make amends for his earlier miss when he latched on to Jordan Heads' header but from 2 yards out he somehow put his header over the bar. This was to be Cove's best chance of the second half and it was just not to be their day as Fraserburgh scored right after. A cross into the back post saw William West calmly header the ball over Stuart and into the net. 1-0 Fraserburgh and now Cove really had to attack. Fraserburgh sat back and invited Cove to pressurise them but it just wasn't happening. The Broch were defending well and Cove just couldn't get a shot at Paul Leask's goal. The rain came on and it poured. There was no enclosure at Bellslea Park so luck was not on our team's side. A dire game was ended by the referee and Fraserburgh were through to the final to play Nairn County.
