Kemnay Youth 3 - Postal ALC 2 - Castle Rovers Cup Semi Final - 29/10/22 - Bogbeth Park

TEAM - 1. D.Cruickshank 2. S.Carter 3. R.Webster 4. C.Collie 5. B.Patterson 6. A.Clark 7. N.Wiley 8. A.Baxter 9. P.Frampton 10. B.Webster 11. E.Martin 12. M.Hunter 14. C.Reith 15. S.Walker 16. G.Cormach

OPPOSITION MOTM – N/A

Postal travelled to Kemnay for this Semi Final of the Castle Rovers Cup with a number of players missing. It meant Ross Webster, Barry Patterson and Ewan Martin were recalled back into the team to start with Baxter moving into midfield.

Postal started the half nervously. Too many passes going astray in the opening 20 minutes and sitting far too deep.

Only 15 minutes into the half, Carter had to come off injured and was replaced at right back by Reith.

The first half was a fairly even affair. Kemnay probably had the better of the first 15 minutes but Postal would finish the half stronger.

A decent Postal move on 25 minutes would see Frampton and Bruce Webster combine to play the ball into the path of Martin. His shot went wide though.

On 26 minutes Postal were lucky to clear a shot off the line after poor marking from a set piece.

On 42 minutes Frampton was kicked up in the air near the Kemnay box on the right. The free kick was sent into the box but Framptons header went just past the post.

The half ended 0-0.

HALF TIME – KEMNAY YOUTH - 0 - POSTAL ALC – 0

The second half saw much more goalmouth action.

The first goal came ten minutes into the half and it was the home side who would take the lead. A simple enough weak looking shot was sent towards Cruickshank in the Postal goal. He dived forwards to collect the ball, but the ball went underneath his body and into the net. 1-0.

5 minutes later and Postal sold another soft goal. Collie gave the ball away, under little pressure, on the edge of the box. The Kemnay player raced through and produced a decent finish to double the home side’s lead. 2-0.

Frampton was causing the home side issues with his pace all game and he was rewarded on 19 minutes with a goal after he was kicked up in the air, in the box. He stood up to score the pen. 2-1.

Ten minutes later and Postal gave away another goal, far too easily again. Patterson was skinned on the left hand side of the Postal defence. The cross into the box was only partially headed away by Collie and when the ball dropped to the unmarked attacker he made no mistake to stroke home into the net. Good finish but poor poor defending leading up to the strike. 3-1.

5 minutes later and Postal pulled another goal back. More good work by Frampton this time on the left wing saw him send in a low cross which Martin did well to control and knock into the net past the keeper. 3-2.

15 minutes to go and only one goal needed to take the game to extra time.

On 35 minutes Frampton again burned the defender with his pace but the keeper made a good save to put Framptons shot round the post.

Martin had to go off soon after and with no recognised strikers on the bench, goalkeeper Walker was sent up top.

Postal huffed and puffed for the remainder of the game but Kemnay used their experience to kill any momentum Postal were trying to get going forward and the game ended with no more goals.

Overall, a deeply disappointing afternoon. Not much between the two sides but if Postal are going to give away the goals we gave away today and not take our chances up top, when presented, then we cant have too many complaints when we don’t get into the cup final. All the best to Kemnay in the final.