It was Scottish Cup action this weekend for Peterhead as they hosted junior outfit Lochee United in the second round of the competition. Despite the gulf in divisions, it was the visitors who entered the round as the on form outfit, winning 7 of their opening 8 games of the season, whilst Peterhead were without a win in 5 despite a point on their travels to Stranraer the previous week. There were plenty of changes to the Blue Toon side as Blessing Oluyemi, David Wilson, Jordon Brown, Andy McCarthy, Seb Ross, Ben Armour, Rory McAllister and Kieran Shanks replaced Stuart McKenzie, Danny Strachan, Scott Ross, Dylan Forrest, Jack Brown, Peter Pawlett, Max Barry and Cammy Smith.
The visitors got off to a dream start as Kerr Hay drew a foul in the area and ex-Peterhead winger Bobby Linn made no mistake from the spot to put the Blue Bells ahead. Things went from bad to worse for Peterhead as once again Hay went down in the area and Linn tucked the penalty into the back net. Peterhead grew into the game and eventually halved the deficit through Jason Brown as he headed home Seb Ross’s corner kick at the far post. Moments later, the Blue Toon were level. Andy McCarthy marked his first game back after a 9-week injury lay off with a fantastic long ranged effort which dipped over the keeper and into the top right hand corner.
Peterhead took full advantage of the momentum they’d built in the game and took the lead in the 40th minute. Cieran Dunne picked up a loose ball on the edge of the area and at the second attempt, he curled a right footed effort into the far corner. On the stroke of half time, the Blue Toon doubled their advantage. Seb Ross’s free kick from the edge of the area originally appeared to evade everyone and find its way into the far corner, however on second viewing it took a nick off a Lochee United defender before ending up in the back of the net.
Half Time: Peterhead 4-2 Lochee United
With the wind at their backs, Lochee United once again started the second half as the brighter of the two sides. Connor Coupe sent an effort narrowly over the bar before Linn completed his hat trick, beating Oluyemi at his near post. The Blue Toon made some changes around the hour mark and Cammy Smith, one of those substitutes, fired home an effort from 20 yards as he restored the hosts’ two goal advantage. With a few minutes to go, Jason Brown sealed the deal as he got onto the end of Conner Duthie’s fantastic cross and scored his second header of the game.
Full Time: Peterhead 6-3 Lochee United (Jason Brown 28’ & 85’, McCarthy 32’, Dunne 40’, Moore OG 45+2’, Smith 74’; Linn 2’, 15’ & 56’)
Starting XI: Oluyemi, Goldie, Wilson (Danny Strachan 77’), Jason Brown, Dunne, Jordon Brown (Barry 70’), McCarthy, Armour (Duthie 70’), Seb Ross (Jack Brown 63’), Shanks, McAllister (Smith 70’)
