Prior to kick off both sides final league positions had been decided with Fordoun having their highest ever finish in third place finish whilst City Royal were six places behind. However, Galaxy have a cup final to look forward to and this, the last league game of the season, was every players last chance to claim a shirt in the cup final squad in.

Fordoun were without a host of stars for the trip to deepest darkest Brechin and travelled to face City Royal without the Stirling brothers, Logan Cruickshank, Jamie Tough, Iain Cuthill, Kevin Hector and Dean McComiskie. In came Lloyd Davies, Gavin Norrie, Ryan Murray, Mark Forbes and Derry Simpson whist Craig Thomson dropped back into defence. With the captain and vice captain posted missing it was left to Lloyd Davies to lead the patched up Galaxy team.

It was a cracking morning for football in Brechin but a recent visit from caravan toeing travellers meant the pitch was in a poor state. Galaxy started well and despite the unfamiliar look to the team knocked the ball about well. It was the visitors who took the lead with a great team goal; Ian Welsh played the ball short to right back Lloyd Davies, Galaxy then worked it across the pitch with Nathan Keddie and Roy Welsh combining to send Michael Deans free down the left. The wingers sent in an excellent cross which left Ryan Murray with the simple task of finishing the move.

The visitors had their tails up and soon added to their lead. From a Craig Thomson long throw Mark Forbes put the home goalkeeper under pressure and he conceded a corner. Roy Welsh sent in a great delivery and with Ryan Murray waiting at the back post player/manager Mark Forbes threw himself at the ball and crashed a header into the net. It was the sort of desire which had made Didier Drogba a hero for Chelsea the night before and brought Forbes his seventh goal in only six appearances this season.

This was as good as it got for Fordoun as Royal worked their way back into the match. They got a goal back when Lloyd Davies completely lost his bearings and conceded a throw in which was sent long into the box. Ian Welsh looked to be fouled as he came to claim the ball but the referee saw nothing wrong and the attacker forced the ball home.

It wasn’t long before City Royal were level as Michael Pirie found himself bogged down in the worst part of the pitch allowing an attacker to cut into the box and shoot into the bottom corner. Fordoun then made a change as grumpy Nathan Keddie had talked himself into a booking and looked to be heading for a red card which would see him miss the final so he was replaced by Martin Pearson as the half came to an end.

HT City Royal 2-2 Fordoun Galaxy

City Royal came flying out of the traps at the start of the second half and Fordoun struggled to retain possession. It wasn’t long before the home side were ahead when an attacker burst through the defence and went one on one with Ian Welsh before finishing well.

Royal added a fourth shortly after in a similar fashion when once again an attacker finished well inside the box. A match in which Fordoun had been in full control was now slipping away.

Galaxy tried to work their way back into the game and had two big penalty appeals when firstly Michael Deans looked to be fouled inside the box and then a Royal defender appeared to handle the ball beside the penalty spot but nothing was given. The visitors did get one back when a free kick was awarded and with Kevin Hector on a cheap weekend break Roy Welsh stepped up and sent the ball past the Royal wall and keeper then into the back of the net.

Fordoun had another opportunity when some comedy goalkeeping led to an indirect free kick but Royal were able to clear the danger. As had happened in the first league game of the season Ian Welsh game out of the sticks to spend the last twenty minutes up font whilst Martin Pearson pulled on the number one shirt. Fordoun also went 3-4-3 and sent Craig Thomson into the attack to try and grab an equaliser.

Ian Welsh was desperate to join his brother on the score sheet and his moment appeared to have arrived when he ghosted in unmarked at the back post to meet a cross from the left but he was unable to take the chance. With that Galaxy’s last chance to salvage the game was gone.

FT City Royal 4-3 Fordoun Galaxy.

City Royal were delighted with their seventh league win of the season whilst Fordoun Galaxy were disappointed to have lost their final two league games. Overall it’s been a decent season for Galaxy and they could put the icing on the cake by beating Black Abbot when they meet in the Review Cup Final on Friday.

Fordoun: I Welsh, Davies, Thomson, Pirie, Norrie, Murray, Keddie (Pearson), R Welsh, Deans, Forbes & Simpson