Postal ALC 0 - Alford 4 - Div1 North - Sat 12th October 2024

TEAM - 1.  Grant Cormack 2. David Russell 3. Neil MacDonald 4. Steven Carter 5. Travis Raynard 6. Steven Abel 7. James Steele  8. Martin Maciver 9. Duncan Paterson  10. Sultan Ahmed 11. Euan Brechin 12. Peter Frampton 14.  Jackson Bennett 15. Kieran Dowbekin 16. Sergiu Cotovici  17.  Duncan Mackenzie  18. Lee Scott.  19.  David Finch

OPPOSITION MOTM – Steven Abel

Alford visited Postal for the second time this season, this time in the league.  After a dominant performance against Stoneywood Parkvale the home team were in confident mood. 

Postal again had to make changes to last weeks team with a number of players unavailable due to injury, suspension and on holiday.  David Russell came back into the side replacing the suspended Adam Veitch, with Andrew Baxter unavailable Neil McDonald came into the side at left back and James Steele replaced the injured Alex Clark in the middle of the park.

Postal kicked off the encounter and started the slower of the two sides.

On 4 minutes Alford had a corner which Postal cleared well.  On the 5th minute a strong run from Sultan Ahmed down the Postal left resulted in the wide man slipping in Duncan Paterson however his first touch let him down and wasn’t able to get his shot off as the Alford keeper scooped up the ball. 

On the 6th minute a free kick into the box was met by Travis Raynard however the referee seen a foul in the Alford box and play stopped for the resultant free kick to the away side. 

On the 9th minute the away side would take the lead, breaking through the middle of the park the Alford player was crudely upended by David Russell and the free kick was despatched by the Alford left winger.  A great strike but Postal would be upset at how easy Alford broke on the defence and giving away the foul in such a dangerous area. 

At this point the game swung end to end, on 20 minutes a David Russell cross was dropped by the Alford keeper however just out of reach from James Steele who advanced up the field. 

On 21 min the dangerous Alford left winger number 19 stood up Postal right back David Russell, cut inside and released a shot that looked comfortable for Grant Cormack to save however the ball went under his body and into the net to double the away sides lead. 

0 – 2

Postal thought they had pulled one back when a Neil McDonald free kick was met by Raynard however the Alford keeper made a good save. 

On 30 min a corner from Martin Mciver was met by Abel in the air, the ball landed to Sultan Ahmed however was unable to convert.

On 35 min the game was over as a contest, cross from the Postal left was missed in the air by Raynard, the Alford forward number 4 took the ball down and slammed it past Cormack.  Poor goal to loose all round but an excellent finish by the Alford forward who has had a lot of success against Postal this year netting his third goal in 2 games. 

0 – 3

On 42 min Raynard was sent off in a moment of lunacy.  A struggle in the middle of the park number 4 flicked out a leg and Raynard kicked out as the forward lay on the ground.  Straight red card and yet another game Postal would have to struggle on with 10 men whilst already 3 down on the score board. 

Half Time

Dowbekin replaced Russell, Munro for McViver, Mackenzie for Ahmed and Bennett for Steele and Cotovici for Paterson.

46 min Dowbekin tried to save a corner but inadvertently played the ball to the Alford number 4 who squared for number 12 who slotted the ball home.

0 – 4

Alford would attack in droves with Postal defending well however offering little else.  This pattern would continue through to the end of the game.

Full time 0 – 4

Overall a disappointing afternoon for Postal, a game that they never turned up in.  Alford were dominant all over the park and played the better football.  Postal discipline continues to be a real issue and quite frankly verges on the embarrassing.