Second place in the Highland League is the aim for Formartine United manager Steve Paterson after his side dropped another two points in their goal-less draw against Buckie Thistle on Saturday.
United could not find a way past an inspired Jags’ goalkeeper Kevin Main who even saved a Stuart Anderson penalty and the Pitmedden side now find themselves 13 points behind leaders Brora Rangers and four adrift of third-placed rivals Inverurie Locos who are in third place, behind Rangers’ nearest challengers Nairn County.
After going so close to the title last season, United were defeated in a final-day decider by Cove, progress has stalled. Paterson said: “We haven’t been in the best of form. We showed good signs last Wednesday against Turriff United when we won 3-0 and kept a clean sheet, that was a positive, but we’re not going to win every game.
“I’m just trying to get second now, and that’s been the case for a while.
“That’s not admitting defeat, that’s just being realistic. Brora are the outstanding team and they’re likely to get a record amount of points. They’re not just beating teams, they’re winning games by big margins and they’re not conceding goals.
“They’ve far and away the best goals-against total, and far and away the best goals for tally. They’ve only lost one game all season, that’s an outstanding achievement.
“We’re realistic, it would take a monumental collapse from them to throw it away now, but we just have to keep on playing.” Brora have 67 points and only require a further 20 points from their final 10 games to match the highest points tally ever set in the Highland League – 87 points by Inverness Thistle in the 1986-87 season.
Another memorable Highland League side, the all-conquering five-in-a-row Huntly side of the mid 90s were managed by Paterson, but when asked if this Brora teams were as good, Paterson couldn’t find an answer.
He said: “Different eras, difficult to say. Brora are like an Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Ross County select as all their players bar one, has been on the books of either club. It’s quality for them, and I wish good luck to them.
“It’s great for a club such as Brora to have be excited about the possibility of winning the treble at the end of the season.
“I don’t think anyone would be surprised if they wiped the boards by winning the North of Scotland cup, league cup and league.”