Stoneywood Parkvalve 1 - Postal ALC 2 - Div1 North - Stauff Park - Saturday 5th Oct 2024

TEAM - 1.  Grant Cormack 2. Adam Veitch 3. Andrew Baxter 4. Steven Carter 5. Travis Raynard 6. Luca Giulianotti 7. Alex Clark  8. Martin Maciver 9. Duncan Patterson  10. Sultan Ahmed 11. Steven Abel 12. Ross Michie 14. Peter Frampton 15. Euan Brechin 16. Tomas Traca  17.  David Russell  18. Scott Stuart.  19.  David Finch

OPPOSITION MOTM – Steven Abel

Postal travelled to Dyce to take on Stoneywood Parkvale who have had a brilliant start to the season.  Set up at Stoneywood is first class so the Postal ALC players were looking forward to playing at the ground.

Harry McCauley remained sidelined with a back injury and with Duncan Mackenzie & James Steele attending weddings the management team were forced into making changes.  Tomas dropped to the bench with Martin Maciver and Duncan Paterson making their first starts of the season.  Luca Giulianotti came back into the middle of the park and Postal had Euan Brechin back in the squad after breaking a bone in his foot.

Alex Clark captained the team and from the kick off Postal started well winning a corner in 5 min.  Martin Maciver took the corner and looked certain to result in a goal as Sultan Ahmed jumped highest however the header went over the bar. 

6 min into the match Luca Giulianotti pulled up with a hamstring injury and was unable to shake it off being replaced by Euan Brechin on 10 minutes.

Postal looked to have a great shape from the outset, moved the ball with purpose and on 14 minutes great play in the midfield by Sultan say the ball slipped into Maciver who quickly played the ball to Captain Clark who released Able down the Postal right.  The winger raced into the box and drove a great shot into the keepers bottom right corner.  Great play and a great goal from Abel, who the management team have been demanding increase his goal tally this season.  0 – 1 

On the 30th min another Maciver corner was met by Sultan again however the ball went wide. 31 min another corner seen Able try and play the ball back into the box however went over the bar and out of play.

On 35 minutes Stoneywoods centre back 20 had a great chance from a corner winning the ball high in the air however his header went wide with Brechin doing well to put him off.  A minute later the tall Stoneywood player had the ball at his feet, played the ball back to his keeper…..however short.  Duncan Paterson pounced on the loose ball and bent a great shot high into the Stoneywood top lefthand corner.  Sublime finish from the Postal striker.  0 – 2

On 44 min Postal almost scored goal of the season.  Able drove down the right wing and passed the ball into Maciver, Zidane turn in the box slipped the ball into Paterson who chipped the ball up into the air and skelped it with his left foot, unfortunately hitting the bar.  Great football.

45 min Postal almost went 3 nil up when Sultan Ahmed raced through on goal however a great save from the Stoneywood manager in goal kept his side in the game. 

Half Time – Stoneywood Parkvale 0 – Postal ALC 2

Following a great first half the second half was a quieter affair with both teams fighting for supremacy in the middle of the park.

On 60 min a long range effort for Stoneywood looked to be a certain goal however Cormack in goals made a great save.

On 61 min Baxter made an incredible run up the Postal left beating numerous men before finding himself in the opposition box.  Faking to shoot the Stoneywood number 20 fouled Baxter in the box and a penalty was awarded to the away side.  Number 20 injured himself in the process and was replaced shortly after.  Duncan Paterson stepped up and again the Stoneywood keeper pulled off the save to keep his side in the match.

Postal introduced Ross Michie and Peter Frampton and on 87 min the Postal Coach was sent packing from the field of play for kicking a Stoneywood player in an attempt to stop an attack.  Sledgehammer to crack a nut and was rightly sent packing.  Even more impressive in regard to this sending off was Framptons speech on discipline before, during and after the loss to Kintore……..

On 89 min the Ref awarded Stoneywood a pen, adjudging Ahmed to have tripped the Stoneywood number 10.  Sultan being up the pitch at the time made the decision even more confusing to the Postal sideline.

1 -2

Full time.

Postal were dominant throughout, had great shape out of possession and in possession played some great football.  Back 4 all excellent, Clark, Brechin and Maciver covered every blade of grass and with Abel and Sultan in top form made Postal a joy to watch.  Great shift from Duncan Paterson on his first start and unlucky not to walk off the park having scored a hattrick.