AC Mill Inn Academy 2 - Postal ALC 2 - Div 2 East - Stonehaven - 11/9/2021

TEAM - 1. G.Cormack 2. A.Riddell 3. L.Mackie 4. S.Clark 5. B.Patterson 6. S.Carter 7. R.Law 8. R.Lamb 9. L.Mewse 10. S.Ure 11. R.Insch 12. P.Frampton 14. N.Cain 15. A.Ingram 16. P.Coutts

OPPOSITION MOTM – B.Patterson

Postal travelled to the Astro turf pitch at Stonehaven for this Div 2 East game against new team AC Mill Academy. After a lot of rain pre-match the sun came out just in time for the start of the match.

Postal welcomed back Ure into starting 11 with Law and Mackie making their first league starts of the season.

Postal started the game well and dominated the opening first ten minutes of the match. It was Academy, though who would have the first real chance to open the scoring on 15 minutes when they were awarded a penalty. No complaints from the Postal bench after Mackie clumsily bundled their player down in the box. Luckily for Postal, Cormack made a good save to keep the scoring level.

A minute later a nice ball over the top from Mewse to Lamb saw the keeper save from the midfielder over the bar. From the resulting corner Patterson won the first header but when the ball fell to Clark with the goal gaping he could only hit the post.

Postal took the lead on 28 minutes with a great goal from Ure for his 8th of the season. Clark took the ball out from defence, passed to Carter who sent it up the line to sub Frampton. His cross was cleared but only as far as Ure, who from about 25 yards out smashed in a long range effort. 0-1.

On 36 minutes, Frampton was sent through on goal but he went too wide after rounding the keeper and the chance was missed.

A minute later and Postal doubled their lead. A ball from Mackie to Law saw Law turn and shoot. The shot deflected off a defender and passed the keeper. 0-2.

HALF TIME – AC Mill Inn Academy 0 - POSTAL ALC 2

Postal started the first half well and had a great chance a minute into half. Good passing from Lamb, Law and Insch down the left saw the ball sent across the face of the Academy box. Mewse shot on goal but the keeper saved.

The first little scare occurred 7 minutes into the half. Postal had numerous chances to clear their lines but dilly dallied. Academy eventually wont the ball, played a little push ball into the box but Cormack was again on hand to save one-on-one.

That should have been the scare Postal needed to sort it out but instead they starting getting deeper and deeper inviting Academy on to attack. If anything Postal were starting to look a bit leggy on the wide pitch compared to the Stonehaven side.

25 minutes into the half and they conceded the first goal. Again, chances to clear the ball were failed and when the cross came in from the Postal right, Mackie lost his man and he headed home unchallenged. Poor goal to lose and Postal began to look more than a little rattled.

On 27 minutes Postal had a great chance to score on the counter attack. Frampton down the right found Insch with a pass all alone on the left of the box. He decided not to take on the shot, passed inside to Cain who shot over the bar.

5 minutes later and the home side equalised. Law was dispossessed in the middle of the park, the ball was then played into the unmarked Academy player straight through the middle of the Postal defence and he made no mistake to slot home.

Postal thought they had scored when they claimed the ball had went over the line from a setpiece into the box. The ref disagreed though and the game carried on.

Postal should have scored right on the last kick of the ball when Insch was sent through one-on-one but he shot early from distance with no power straight into the keepers hands.

Overall, a really frustrating and disappointing afternoon. To be two up at half time and not see the game out is pretty poor. Poor finishing and equally poor defending for the two goals. That said, it’s another game unbeaten in the league and there’s a long way to go which will no doubt see more ups and downs before the end of the season.