Considering the recent weather and that a game had been played on it the previous weekend, the pitch was looking well and a good match was anticipated.

The Downfield squad included ex-Broughty players Stuart Farquharson, Mark Ferrie, Chris Fordyce and Jon Snowdon, while in the Broughty ranks were ex-Spiders Lee Bertie and Graham Allan.

Manager Kenny Cameron made two changes from the previous week's starting line-up, with Bruce Raffell and Lindsay Gray replacing Lee Bertie and Graham Allan.

In an evenly-contested first 10 minutes, both sides looked to be up for the game, seeing plenty possession of the ball.

And in the 11th minute the home side created their first chance of the game with Fordyce denying Craik, then Gray with two fantastic saves.
The visitors had their first opportunity in the 15th minute when the dangerous Farquharson fired in a 25-yard effort which was well saved by Fed 'keeper Cormack.

Broughty were reduced to 10 men in the 20th minute when Farquharson saw red after an altercation with Tinley in the middle of the park. The referee had no hesitation in ordering off the Broughty man, to leave the home side to play the rest of the game a man down.

But this only spurred the Fed forward and both MacLeod and Craik came close with drives from outside the box. Broughty were again not far away when Russell's shot in the 30th minute hit the bar and rebounded away to safety with Fordyce well beaten.

The home side succeeded in going ahead in the 35th minute when a diagonal ball into the box from Russell found the unmarked CRAIK who volleyed home from eight yards.

Gray's movement was causing the Spiders' defence problems and he was unlucky to see a shot well saved again from Fordyce in the 40th minute.
Broughty increased their advantage to a deserved two right on half-time, when BROWN nodded home a Smith corner.

Half-time: Broughty Athletic 2, Downfield 0.

Downfield made a change at half-time, with Payne replacing Potter.
However, the Fed went three up in the 46th minute when Snowdon brought down Russell in the box. RUSSELL took the kick himself and made no mistake.

The home side were very much on top and were producing some fine passing moves and creating lots of chances.

They eventually went four up when RUSSELL scored from a 25-yard free kick which gave Fordyce no chance.

Broughty were dealing with everything that the visitors threw at them with Cormack only really having to deal with shots from distance.

But that changed in the 70th minute after some slack play in the home defence and Tinley was brought down. FARQUHARSON scored from the resultant spot kick.

Broughty increased their lead in the 78th minute when a Russell free kick was headed home by MYLES.

The Fed side scored their sixth goal of the afternoon in the 81st minute when RUSSELL finished well after a fine run.

For the visitors, 'keeper Fordyce was keeping the score down with a series of fine saves.

Broughty eventually scored the final goal of the afternoon when RUSSELL finished off a fine move and fired home from eight yards with just two minutes to play.

The referee brought to an end a game in which Broughty ran out deserved winners and were impressive throughout, especially considering they played around 70 minutes with 10 men.

Broughty Athletic: A. Cormack, Brown, Raffell (R. Cormack), Smith, Russell, Craik (Perera), MacLeod, Myles, Gray (Cameron), Burns and Farquharson.

Downfield: Fordyce, MacDonald, Ferrie, Dammer, Potter (Payne), Tinley (Stevenson), Watt, Rollo, Snowdon, Farquharson and Dignan (Tovey).

Manager's comments

A satisfied Kenny Cameron said after the final whistle: "I was absolutely delighted with the boys' display today. Going down to 10 men so early in the game, I thought that the players really worked their socks off for the points.
"They showed a lots of determination and played some fantastic football throughout and they can take great credit for that.
"May I also take time to mention the referee who I felt got all the key decisions correct and had another good game."
Tomorrow's fixture
Tomorrow (Saturday), Broughty Athletic will travel to Ogilvy Park for a league fixture against Arbroath Vics, with a 2.30 p.m. kick-off.