Kintore 5 - Postal ALC 4 - Div1 North - Pleasure Park Kintore - Saturday 28th Sep 2024

TEAM - 1.  Grant Cormack 2. Tomas Nadji 3. Andrew Baxter 4. Steven Carter 5. Travis Raynard 6. Steven Abel  7. Alex Clark  8. James Steele 9. Duncan Mackenzie  10. Sultan Ahmed 11. Jackson Bennett 12. Martin Maciver 14. Peter Frampton 15. Sergiu Cotovic 16. Ross Michie  17.  David Russell  18. Duncan Paterson  19.  David Finch

OPPOSITION MOTM – Sultan Ahmed

Postal kicked off the match shooting downhill and from the 1st minute had a corner which went over everyone and out for a Kintore throw in.  Postal were trying to play football, however, were nervy at the back and midfield and a lot of balls being played too long down the slope.

On 12 minutes a corner from Steele was met by Andrew Baxter however his header came off the post and when cleared landed to Jackson Bennett just outside the 18 his shot well saved by the stand in Kintore keeper. 

On 15 minutes Kintore broke the deadlock.  Postal having no real shape in midfield were all pushing forward, a ball into the Kintore number 8 some 24 yards from the Postal goal seen him turn and slip in the Kintore number 9 who rolled the ball under Cormack.  1-0.

A real disappointment given the chat before the game about the in form Kintore forward and effort and intensity to get behind the ball when we lost it. Great finish by the Kintore forward however poor defensively by Postal front to back.

On 20 minutes the ball was slipped through to Duncan MacKenzie, facing goal the Postal number 9 struck a great shot off the underside of the bar, with the keeper beaten Sultan Ahmed stormed through to knock the rebound home.1-1

This certainly galvanised the Postal players who looked like they had woken up.  On 23 min a great run from Jackson Bennett resulted in a Postal ALC corner.  The corner was met by Travis Raynard however his header was cleared off the line, not far enough however as again Ahmed forced the ball home to send the away team up 1 -2. 

Postal at this time had the majority of the possession, although over playing in the midfield at times and not releasing the forward 3 players quick enough.  End product was lacking in the attempt to extend the lead.

31 min Kintore advanced up the Postal right, Tomas held up the winger however he was able to play a ball to the 18 yard box which seen number 5 shoot into the middle of the Postal goal over the stranded Cormack.  A poor goal to concede all round and questions must be asked why number 5 was allowed to shoot unchallenged. 2-2

On 39 and 40 minutes both a carbon copy of themselves, Mackenzie found himself in the box right of the Kintore goal, first attempt at goal was saved and the second hitting the side netting. 

As is the case with Postal at the moment failure to convert at one end normally results with losing a goal at the other and on 42 minutes Kintore would take the lead.  Passing about in the middle, Clark played the ball to Able who was robbed easily, the ball was played into number 8 who shot first time from 24 yards and into the bottom right hand corner of Cormacks goal.  Another cracking goal for Kintore taking the ball nice and early however school boy in the middle for Postal thinking they had all the time in the world.  3-2

Half Time – Kintore 3 – Postal ALC 2

Half time team talk was about playing with greater speed, intensity and getting the ball forward to the front players before Kintore set up defensively.  Duncan Mackenzie was substituted for Duncan Paterson in an attempt to stretch the Kintore back line.

In truth Kintore started the half the better team, having 3 corners in quick succession.  The third of which on 47 min seen Tomas lose his man number 11 and smash the ball home past Cormack.  4 – 2 

48 minutes Jackson Bennett strolled up the pitch and played the ball into Sultan Ahmed who was taken down by the goal keeper.  Penalty to Postal, which left back Baxter stepped up and slotted home.  The game was then stopped as it appeared the Kintore goalkeeper punched/pushed Baxter in the face while he was trying to retrieve the ball.  The referee took no action.  4- 3

At this point it was one way traffic, Postal dominating and attacking in waves.  60 minutes seen a Clark shot at the edge of the box sail over the bar.  65 min a Travis Raynard header wide of target.  Great chance on 67 min when Duncan Paterson met a James Steele freekick however his header was wide of the target. 

68 minutes Postal thought they had equalised, a great free kick into the box sailed over everyone and Sultan sent a shot towards goal, the touchline were not sure if it was goalbound however when Able put the ball into the net the referee called offside. 

69 minutes on the Postal right a quick free kick from Carter met Sultan Ahmed who smashed the ball home.  A great goal from the in form Ahmed.  4 – 4 

Postal were now dominating all over the park, on 75 minutes Jackson Bennett went past his man with ease and shot from the left side of the box however his shot was well saved.  Carbon copy on 80 minutes however Jacksons shot hit the post when the Postal sideline were all sure it was going into the net. 

85 minutes Jackson Bennett went in for a challenge on the Kintore number 2 and was booked for the second time today.  Red card.  This didn’t stop Postal advancing up the pitch however and a through ball on the right wing to Duncan Paterson seen the ball run out of play.  For some reason Postal all stopped dead in their tracks, Kintore took the throw in, passed into midfield and advanced up the pitch while the Postal players all stood still.  Kintore then played a through ball to number 9 into the Postal box, the advancing Cormack, who looked favourite to claim the ball, stopped and the number 9 stabbed the ball into the roof of the Postal net.  A real bad goal to lose on 89 minutes.  5 – 4 

Full time

Overall a real disappointment today.  If you score 4 goals you would expect to win any game of football however some crazy positional play, poor defending and a desire to argue with Kintore players and the ref cost us today rather than play football.  Really naïve.

Postal had the majority of the possession however overplayed at times and didn’t score more goals when in ascendancy.  Kintore had 5 chances and finished each one with real quality, some of the finishes top drawer.  If you don’t convert and concede easily unfortunately you pay the price.