A hard fought victory today against a big physical Hermes side adds another 3 points to our tally. Not at our best today we looked sluggish and didn't have our usual zip about us. But a win is a win and there have been plenty of times in the past when we have played a lot better and lost. On the road for the next 2 games so our pitch will get a much needed break. Only blackmark was Gibbys red card for an alleged offence that only the ref saw ! We now miss him for 2 games for nothing more than handbags and I'm just sorry the ref didn't use a little bit of common sense, still we will have to live with it now.

With a heavy pitch but perfect overhead conditions, we kicked off this game wanting to carry on from last week great win but after only a minute we allowed them an effort on goal that Mark had to be quick with to gather at the foot of the post. We went right up the other end and won a corner, from it Gibby nearly connected as it flew across the goal but it was put back in where a bit of head tennis resulted in a FANTASTICALLY POWERFULLY HEADED GOAL from Stevie Powell !!  (hope you pay me next week!) well at least it went over the line ! So a great start and we then started to knock it around a but, there was a great opportunity to double the lead 5 minutes later when a ball into the box was on its way to their keeper but he was challenged and the ball came across the open goal but despite a couple of tries it couldn't get put into the net. It was cleared upfield and was played down their right and crossed onto the 18 yard line where it was met waist high by their forward who hit a good volley over Mark and into the net for the equaliser. On 13 minutes Stevie Powel put a great cross from the left across the box to Ian Murray but his header was narrowly over. It was starting to turn into a bit of a battle with some strange refereeing decisions not helping. Molby had another chance with a shot after 26 minutes but it was blocked, then he got the ball on the edge of the box, went between 2 defenders who brought him down in the box, you could even hear the contact from 50 yards away but the referee ignored the claims. After 40 minutes Ush put a ball onto Gibbys head but it want over and a minute later he got the ball himself wide left in the box but his shot across the keeper also missed the far post. Just before half time we thought we'd taken the lead following a great move on the left between Gibby who put the ball to Zander, he put the ball inside the box to Ritchie who shimmied, like a great shimmying thing and then hit a shot that cannoned off the crossbar. So all square at half time with some strong words from the Management to try and shake up the lads to look forward to !

After only 2 mites of the 2nd half Ritchie got a chance but his weak shot was easily held by the keeper. A minute later he won the ball just outside their box but again his shot was too weak to beat the keeper, more Weetabix my boy ! Then after 5 minutes we won the ball on the left with Molby who put the ball into the box to Gibby, he laid it across to Zander who finished off the move with a great goal, 2 - 1.  After 9 minutes another great ball into the box from deep by Ush was just in front of Molby right in front of the keeper, all it needed was a touch but his little leggies just weren't long enough ! It was now a full scale battle with Hermes trying to mix things up and it was during this that an innocuous challenge between Gibby and one of their defenders resulted in 2 red cards ! Why it was a sending off offence is anyone guess but at least both teams had 10 men.  After 27 minutes Molby put in a great ball right onto Ritchies head in the box but his header was wide, another one with a head like a 'threepenny' bit !Just after the half hour when running out of our box, Ush was adjudged to have handled the ball, how that decision was made is anyone's guess, but it resulted in a free kick to them just on the edge of the box, justice was done however when they only managed to hit the bar.

So the game finished with a deserved win against a very physical but not very good Hermes team, we will have to play and compete just the same next week away to East End if we are going to keep this great season going.

 

Grahams Report

MAUD GRIND OUT VICTORY AGAINST HERMES.
In heavy conditions the game kicked off and within a minute Maud found themselves under pressure when Kerr had to dive low to save the shot in from the right. a minute later Maud had taken the lead when a crossed ball in from the left was headed goalwards by Stephen only to be cleared off the line but Powell following up made no mistake. Maud were made to rue a golden opportunity for a miss when Reid was on the deck but could only send the shot past the post. In the 9th minute Hermes equalised when a crossed ball in caught out Maud's defence and was thundered into the net by Robertson. In the 15th minute Maud managed to break down a Hermes attack and sending in a counter attack down the left, Powell sent in a cross which was headed over the bar by Murray. Winning a free kick from 22 yards out it was blasted against the wall b y A Davidson and a pass back from Hermes defence was adjudged to be offside, one of many strange decisions taken by the ref. Hermes bounced back and a good diagonal ball in to the goal area was blasted wide right past the post. The first of many cards flashed by the ref this afternoon went to Courage of Hermes. The free kick was taken and crossed in to the feet of Murray who was taken down inside of the box. Play on waved the ref much to the disgust of Maud denied a stonewall penalty. Maud wasted several chances from a series of corners from the right. Again Murray's pace caught out not only Hermes defence but also the linesman at the far side who was not keeping up with play. At the end of the first half some good inter linking play between Stephen to A Davidson who set up Ligertwood. Turning his marker Ligertwood sent in the snap shot but could only rattle the cross bar. After a sluggish start Maud finally upped the tempo when Powell sent the ball straight up the left wing to Murray onto Stephen. Dribbling past his marker and the out coming keeper, he sent in the ball across the goal line for A Davidson to tap in and double Maud's score. A great run up the right from Usher who sent in a lovely ball to the far post which could only be knocked past the post by the out stretched foot of Murray. Both Stephen and Courage saw red as tempers flew along with arms in the middle of the pitch. Both teams were now reduced to ten men for the remainder of the game. Settling down Hermes made a few changes to freshen things up. Putting pressure on Maud Campbell sent in a long shot which flew over the bar. Maud had several chances to increase their lead but resilient defending by Hermes kept the score the same. A studs up challenge by Rae secured a yellow card for him followed shortly later by a yellow for Middleton for dissent. A poor header by Ligertwood wasted another corner for Maud. A bouncing ball hit Ligertwood on the hand which led to a free kick for Hermes on the edge of the 18 yard box. Blasted in over the wall it struck the crossbar and was knocked out for a corner to nothing. With 10 minutes remaining Willox of Hermes was replaced by Mearns followed by Whyte replacing Usher of Maud. As Maud's attack broke down, Pirie was sent on in place of Ligertwood. Finally after a few minutes of scrappy play the game ground to a halt with Maud picking up another 3 points. Next week Maud are away to East End in the league with a 2.30pm kick off.
 

 

Some great photos by Ted Bartlett !