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Saturday 29th September 2007
Stonehaven 1 - 2 Maud
Rainbow InternationAL Superleague
Stonehaven 1 Maud 2
Foy 78 Murray 17, 26 Pen
MAUD Leask, Usher, Powell, B Davidson, Arthur, Rae, McDonald, S Whyte, Murray, Willox, Middleton.
Subs Stephen, Ligertwood, A Davidson, Pirie, Urquhart.
MAUD BREAK DOWN THE HIVE.
Maud started the game with their top two strikers on the bench and a new partnership up front of Murray and Willox. Within a couple of minutes Maud nearly opened their account but the poor cross in from Whyte was easily dealt with. As Stonehaven up the tempo, Maud managed to break up the right from a Murray pass out to Whyte on the wing who crossed in a good ball which was scrambled clear for a corner to nothing. Stonehaven missed a chance to take the lead from the strikers shot which was deflected out by Leask the first of several first class saves from the young keeper. As Maud attack up the left, a long crossed ball in nearly caught out the keeper but recovered well to clear the dangerous ball. The game was stopped for several minutes as the defender received treatment for an injury to his head following a 50-50 ball with Murray. In the 17th minute, good play by Willox on the edge of the box sent a through ball to Murray who slipped his marker, turned and thundered a shot into the net for Maud to take the lead. Nine minutes later Maud doubled their tally when good interlinking play between Murray onto Willox who was taken down inside the box. Penalty, up stepped Murray and sending the keeper the wrong way grabbed his second of the afternoon. Both teams were playing attacking football but the final touch was letting them all down. Maud forced a corner in the dying minutes before half-time which was crossed in to Murray who sent it back to McDonald. Firing in the shot only to see the keeper get down low and push it out for a corner again to nothing.
Stonehaven started the second half lively looking for a goal to come back into the game but Maud finally sort themselves out after a scare when Stonehaven got a shot well on target only to be denied by Leask. Willox received a yellow for allegedly diving inside Stonehaven's box. Murray nearly added a third when he found himself one on one with the keeper but was beaten by a poor angle and a good bit of goal keeping. Stonehaven missed a golden opportunity to score when a crossed ball caught out Maud's defence but slid past the post, a let off for Maud. A corner from the right for Stonehaven was headed goalwards and again only cat like reactions from Leask prevented them from scoring. A flurry of subs being sent on followed by a series of corners still left Stonehaven goal less. Maud replaced Willox and McDonald with Stephen and Ligertwood in the 62nd minute. Again Maud had Leask to thank with another great reactive save as Stonehaven pressed forward. Finally the goal they were looking for came in the 78th minute from a crossed in corner not cleared properly and finished off by Foy. Stonehaven's confidence was up now and again were denied by Leask as they surged forward looking for the equaliser. Stephen at the other end found himself one on one with keeper but was denied by a brave dive at his feet by Stonehaven's keeper. A great long ball upfield found Murray who was chopped down by the centre back who seemed to be the last man but only received a yellow for the tackle. The resulting free kick came to nothing and was quickly followed by a Stonehaven free kick on the edge of Maud's 18 yard box. Thundered in Stonehaven could only watch as again leask rose to the occasion and denied them another goal. Finally the whistle went and Maud picked up a valuable 3 points. A great all round performance by Maud against a team that was in for a shout of the title last season with a special mention to Leask in goals who saved Maud several times during the afternoon. Next week we are at home to Hillhead in the League with a 2.30pm kick off.