With a morale boosting win against Cruden Bay last week behind the lads today we went into our 3rd Superleague game really needing to get a result. Having so far played well against Turriff and undeservidly been beaten, then playing poorly agains Sunnybank, today was really important.

The game kicked off is pishing rain, luckily the dug outs were big ! However the old failings of giving away soft goals resurfaced after only 2 minutes when Hermes crossed the ball into the box, we seemed all over the place and a Maud arm went up and hit the ball, penalty and 0 - 1 straight away ! It couldn't have started of any worse but the lads dug in and after 6 minutes Gibby had a chance with a snap shot on the edge of their 6 yard box but it went narrowly wide. A couple of minutes later Zander took a free kick about 20 yards out in the middle but the keeper easily saved it low down to his right. We were building up a head of steam now, looking really good going forward but not getting a real chance to score, we got a corner after 24 minutes and it went to the far post where Stevie Powell headed it narrowly wide of the post. After half an hour Jonny McGruther put a great ball down the middle to Zander whos shot was well saved by the keeper, Gibby tried to follow up the loose ball but it was cleared. After 41 minutes we got the breakthrough when Zander won the ball in the middle and knocked it onto Gibby who was running through on the edge of the box, he sprinted past the defenders (yes really!) and chipped it over the keeper for an excellently taken equaliser. A couple of minutes later we were 2 - 1 up when Gav crossed from the left, Gibby beat the keeper to it but it bounced out to the edge of the box where Andrew Whyte did really well to keep the ball low and hit it hard past the defenders and into the net.

We nearly scored again after 2 minutes of the 2nd half when another cross from Gav found Zander in the box, he cut it back to Gibby whose quick shot hit a defenders leg and was cleared. After 10 minutes it all kicked off when Hermes crossed the ball into our box from the left, it wasnt cleared and bodies seemed to fall all over the place, it bounced around and seemed to hit Jonny arm as he lay on the ground, not a pen but they went ballistic about it. The ball got cleared upfield but their No.3 called the referee something nasty (!) and was given a straight red card. After 17 minutes yes another similar ball into our box from the left again wasn't cleared and it fell to their forward 6 yards out, Paul made a truly amazing double save when it looked like they were odds on to score and it was the turning point in the game because we went straight up the other end and after good play from Ritchie and Zander, the ball went to Gibbey who scored his second of the day, 3 - 1. Gibby had yet another effort after 22 minutes but then he got his hat trick after 27 minutes when he got on the end of a ball from Sisco and buried it into the net. Gibby should have scored another one son after when he was free in on goal but instead of taking the chance himself, delayed and passed to Sisco but by that time they had defenders back and it was cleared. After 31 minutes they scored their 2nd goal when the same move, a ball in from the left, was missed by everyone but hit the unlucky Steve Powell and went into the net, a debut goal !! Gibby had another header saved and we really should have had more goals but at the end of the day it was a really good win away from home and now gives us our first Superleague points and hopefully some confidence to get some more.

 

Grahams Report

CONVINCING WIN FOR MAUD

Within two minutes of kick off, Maud found themselves a goal down from a spot kick. A hand ball inside the area by Stephen led to Courage sending Leask the wrong way. Shortly after Stephen nearly redeemed himself when a low shot shaved past the far post. A free kick won by Maud just on the edge of the semi circle was blasted in low by A Davidson but Kessack was alert and managed to get down and smother the shot. A corner by Maud in the 24th minute was crossed in and was sent past the post off Powell's head. Munro finally received a yellow card for persistently fouling followed shortly by McDonald of Maud for a very late tackle. Maud upped the tempo but the final shot kept missing the target. Finally the equaliser came in the 41st minute when A Whyte passed onto A Davidson who sent Stephen on a run. Picking his spot carefully, he chipped over Kessack to bring Maud back into the game. A further minute later Maud doubled their score when a poorly punched clear ball fell to A Whyte. Bringing the ball under control he unleashed the shot straight into the back of the net.

Maud started the second half at a fast pace and were denied a penalty for handball within minutes of the restart. Maud missed an opportunity to add to the tally when confusion inside Hermes box but they recovered sufficiently to clear the danger. As Hermes surged into Maud's penalty box, McGruther on the deck cleared a ball off the goal line amidst cries of hand ball. Campbell received a straight red for foul and abusive language towards the ref followed by McHattie getting a yellow and the manager Copland being sent from the dugout. Finally things calmed down and Hermes again surged forward and only a series of brilliant cat like saves by Leask denied them a goal. Stephen added to his tally in the 63rd minute to take Maud up to three goals to one. A series of offside blunders by the assistant ref denied Maud four goal scoring opportunities. Kessack denied Stephen his third with a great finger tip save but it was only short lived as he finally got his hat trick in the 72nd minute. Coming from good play inside the box by A Whyte who passed onto Stephen who this time made no mistake to complete the hat trick. Slack defending allowed Djahansouzi to beat three markers as he set off on a mazy run which finished with his shot shaving the outside of the post. In the 76th minute a break down the right opened up Maud's defence and the crossed ball over to the far post was cruelly deflected into the net by Powell. Stephen should have added a fourth goal but chose to pass to A Whyte but Kessack reacted quickly and saved the shot. great free kick in towards goal onto Stephen's head but again Kessack denied him with a finger tip save to push the ball over the bar. Maud replaced Stephen and A Davidson with Willox and S Whyte as the clock ticked down. Middleton received a yellow as Maud were put under pressure in the dying minutes. As the whistle finally blew Maud ran out worthy winners. Some great individual performances today so we now look forward to our home game next week against Fraserburgh Utd in the Norsco Regional Cup with a 2.15pm kick off.