Absolutely f*&^%n brilliant !!

Todays performance must the the best Maud have played for many years, the football was precise, the tackling strong and the determination there for all to see. It was especially good because it comes on the back of another great win away at Stonehaven last week and we are now won 5 games on the bounce in League and Cup, scoring 16 goals and conceding only 3 !

The lads started off really well at a good tempo and were not really troubled by Hillhead. Our first real chance didn't come till the 12th minute when John Usher (who had a brilliant game himself today) got the ball outside the box on the left and hit a low shot which went wide. A couple of minutes later he had another chance, this time shooting just over the bar from the edge of the box. After 17 minutes we got the breakthrough when Ian Murray got the ball on the left of their box, went past a defender like he wasn't there (as usual!!) and put a great ball across into the middle where Ritchie met it full on then napper to power it into the net, 1 - 0 and fully deserved. After 21 minutes, yet another blistering run by Usher (hope the cheque is in the post!) into the box followed by a shot that was blocked out for a corner, that was put into the middle when Molby brought it down in one move and shot but it flew narrowly over the bar. After 34 minutes, Ush did it again, this time his shot (I think it was meant as a shot??!!) came back off the bar, bounced down into the area where it was met by John Willox in the middle who thrust his groin at it (apparently!) and the ball (not his) again came back off the bar but then it was cleared, the closest we came to another goal.  However only 4 minutes later Gavin Middleton got the ball on the left about 30 yards out, he threaded a fantastic ball into the box across on the right to Stevie Whyte who beat off the attentions of a defender to coolly chip the ball over the keeper for a much deserved 2nd goal. A couple of minutes later, the final action of the half ended when Ritchie got the ball off John WIllox after some great footwork but his shot was saved. So a great performance all over the park in the first half all we had to do was keep it up !

After only 6 minutes, that man Usher was at it again, this time his shot was tipped over the bar. Seven minutes later, again some great footwork by Willox on the edge of their box ended when he passed the ball inside to Zander (who had replaced Gavin) but his shot was saved. A few minutes later Molby took a free kick we were awarded about 25 yards out, his effort was on its way into the net when the keeper made a fantastic save diving to his rigth at full stretch to keep it out. However after 24 minutes, Zander was flying down the left wing, as he got into the box he was flattened, a stonewall penalty. Molby stepped up and placed the ball to the keepers right, unfortunately for the keeper cos he'd guessed the wrong way and we were 3 - 0 up !  The lads were really still putting their feet on the gas and all over the park everyone wanted to push for more goals. The pressure paid off only 4 minutes later when a mistake at the back by Hillhead saw Zander rob a defender and cooly roll it into the back of the net for our 4th. It got better a minute later when Molby got the ball about 25 yards out, turned and dropped a great ball into the right of their box at Gibbys feet (who had replaced John Willox earlier) and he lifted it over the keeper and into the net, 5 - 0 !!  There were a couple more chances before the final whistle went when another Zander chance was cleared off the line and a Gibby header from Molby cross that the keeper did well to save.

So all in all a brilliant result, every one of the lads played as well as they can, the effort was outstanding and the 5 - 0 scoreline did not flatter us because it was a 5 - 0 performance.

We are away to Dyce next week with an early kick off (1.00) because of the Scotland game, so hopefully the lads will continue this great run.

 

 

Grahams Report

MAUD'S 5 ALIVE DESTROYS HILLHEAD

Keeping up on a run of wins, Maud started lively against an established Superleague team with Murray unlucky in the first few minutes. As Hillhead built up the pressure, Maud's defence stood firm and soaked up everything. Usher was unlucky not to score from a lovely crossed in ball but couldn't get over it and it soared over the bar. A great piece of play down the left finished with a crossed in ball to a running in Ligertwood whose bullet of a header left the keeper helpless in the 18th minute.  Not to be outdone, Hillhead bounced back and Stewart was miffed to see his effort go past the post. Good play again by Usher, driving into the box and lay on a pass to Murray who sent it over the bar. Hillhead won a free kick about 22 yards out, taken short and blasted over by the striker. Good defending by Arthur kept things tidy at the back. Maud were very unlucky not to add to the tally as 2 rocket shots were hit back of the crossbar and finally cleared upfield. Maud finally doubled their score when a cross in to Willox from Middleton was slipped through the defence for Whyte to tap in. Good linking football between Willox and Usher onto Ligertwood whose shot was well held by the keeper. Hillheads Devine called Leask into action just before half time as he was forced to make a rare save in this game to concede a corner to nothing.    

Within 3 minutes of the restart a lively Hillhead attack down the left finished off with a header over the bar by the unmarked striker. A great cross in from Usher nearly caught out the keeper who only at the last second tipped it over for a wasted corner. Maud replaced Middleton with A Davidson in 52 minutes followed by Devine being replaced with Masson a couple of minutes later. A Davidson immediately made an impact with a food mazy run down the left but a poor finish spoilt the move. After dealing with a powerful shot in, Farquhar talked himself into a yellow card along with Allan of Hillhead. In the 69th minute another great run by A Davidson was brought to halt as he was taken down just inside the box. Penalty with Morrison being booked for the challenge. Up stepped Murray and sending the keeper the wrong way got himself onto the score sheet. In the 74th minute a mistake from Hillhead's defence sent a loose ball across the goal area for A davidson to slip in at the back post and finish it off for goal number four. Within a further two minutes Stephen had taken Maud's tally to five when linking play from Murray allowed him to finish off the move. In the 80th minute a desperate tackle on McDonald from Masson earned him a red card when he flung a punch at McDonald. Ligertwood on a run was taken down by Henry who received a yellow with Murray failing to score from the free kick. A goal line clearance denied Maud a 6th and a great clearance by Farquhar denied Stephen's header in the dying minutes. A great all round performance from all of Maud's players especially the defence who soaked up everything Hillhead threw at them. Next week we are away at Dyce on league duty with an early kick off of 1.00pm.