Postal ALC 4 - Alford 2 - Stephen Shield Quarter Final - Webster Park - Saturday 21st Sep

TEAM - 1.  Grant Cormack 2. Adam Veitch 3. Andrew Baxter 4. Steven Carter 5. Travis Raynard 6. Steven Abel  7. Alex Clark  8. James Steele 9. Harry Macauley 10. Duncan Mackenzie 11. Jackson Bennett 12. Martin Maciver 14. Barry Patterson 15. Scott Stuart 16. David Finch

OPPOSITION MOTM – N/A

Postal welcomed Alford to Webster park on Saturday 21st September for the Stephen Shield quarter final.  The two sides had met last year, with Alford advancing. 

With players working, on holiday and injured in action Postal had a threadbare squad so the pack had to be shuffled yet again. Travis Raynard returned to the first team, as did Duncan Mackenzie & Harry Mcauley replacing David Russell, Kash Ahmed and Euan Brechin.  

Postal kicked off the encounter and with both teams settling into the game, Alfords number 6 rolled the ball back to his keeper, the keeper took a touch however didn’t see the onrushing Able.  The clearance crashing off Able and into the back of the Alford net.  Excellent play from Steven Able building on a great start to the season covering a number of positions for the team.  1 – 0 Postal 5 min and a great start.

On 10 min Adam Veitch played a great through ball to Jackson who crossed to Captain Steele who was unable to convert. 

On 15 minutes Alford almost equalised.  Slick passing in the Postal midfield seen the ball played back to Carter, who slipped and left Veitch in a one on one race with the Alford number 21, fortunately for Postal Veitch was more than a match and cleared the ball for a corner.  The resulting corner was met by an Alford player at the edge of the box however sailed over Postal bar. 

At this point Postal were dominating the ball with slick passing and in particular Jackson Bennett causing all sorts of chaos for Alford.  20 min Jackson hit the byline following an excellent first touch, unfortunately with no takers on the end of the cross.  21 min following more great interplay by Postal, Steele played a sublime through ball to Duncan Mackenzie who seen his shot on goal saved and out for a corner. 

The Postal defence looked comfortable at this point and midfield trio of Steele, Clark and Able all dominant.

25 min would see Alford score.  Foul from Raynard in the middle of the Postal half, the free kick was swung in and Alford headed across the Postal box to number 6.  Carter made a great last ditch tackle however number 21 was on point to smash the ball past Cormack.  1 – 1

Alford would come back into the match and dominate the next 10 minutes, on 25 min Carter mis controlled the ball on the half way line and was shown a yellow for obstructing his man.  Fortunate cover was in hand to ensure he was not last man or Postal could have seen Red for the 4th time this season.

On 36 min the dangerous number 21 for Alford swung a right footed cross into the box and was met by number 15, whose header whistled wide of the post. 

39 minutes into the game, Jackson would go for a header just outside the Alford box, an amazing spring leaving the Alford defender with no option but to foul him in the air.  The Postal winger dusted himself down and positioned the ball right of centre and shot the ball through the wall to the goalkeepers near post.  The ball sailed into the net for postal to lead 2 -1.  A great strike that was meant to deceive the Alford goalkeeper.  Great goal.

42 min into the game Postal should have seen their lead increase when Steele crossed to Able, who free in the box stabbed at the ball with the outside of his right foot.  The ball just going wide of the keepers left hand post. 

Half Time - Postal ALC 2 – Alford 1

In truth the game was quite even however Postal were having the greater possession, playing the better football and having the better of the chances.

Disaster would strike for Postal on 49 minutes, a goal kick was not contested via the Postal forward line, Alford heading easily, the ball would drop over Veitch’s shoulder….in the attempt to clear the ball the right back caught the Alford player square in the face with a volley.  The referee acknowledged there was no malice however sent Veitch from the field of play. 

The Postal sending off seemed to galvanise the team again and on 55 min a quick free kick to Jackson seen the winger cross the ball into the box.  Attempting to clear the ball the Alford centre half seen the ball come off his foot and onto his hand, penalty to Postal.  Duncan Mackenzie stepped up and slotted home only for the referee to adjudge Harry to have encroached into the box…..take 2…..Mackenzie again stepped up and slotted the ball home.  3 -1 Postal.

On 65 min a Steele freekick was met on the left wing by Jackson, the winger opted to volley first time and was sailing into the top left hand corner until the Alford keeper saved well.  The ball then bounced a couple of yards off the line and was cleared by the number 6 for a corner.  An incredible effort that would surely have been the greatest goal ever scored at Webster park. 

The resulting corner was delivered by Jackson and met by Raynard to powerfully head the ball into the roof of the net.  4 – 1

On 75 min the away side would pull a goal back.  A quick free kick to Mackenzie on the Postal right was crossed into the box evading everyone.  Alford played the ball up the field and was crossed in from the Postal right and number 21 slotted the ball home. 4 – 2

85 min Maciver came onto the field replacing the excellent Jackson Bennett who had run himself into the ground.  A great display from the young winger.

87 min Patterson entered the field of play replacing the hard running McCauley.

90 min a free kick into the box from Alford seen the number 6 hit the post from 2 yards out. 

Final whistle.

Overall, an excellent display from Postal today, intensity and quality on display across the team combined with some excellent individual displays against an excellent Alford team.  Advancing to the semi final of the league cup against strong opposition, the Postal management team will be expectant of the team taking this form into league duty going forward.