Its a mystery !

How the hell the lads can play so well in some games and then so bad the following game, today we one of the bad ones unfortunately and looking at the poor stats below you can see why.

We actually started off really well, knocking the  ball around and after 8 minutes good interplay by Molby and Gav on the left finished with a great ball in by Zander to the far post where Ritchie's header went wide when it should have hit the target. Five minutes later Gibby knocked the ball onto Zander in the box but his shot went wide.  However after 16 minutes the signs were there when Sunnybank got a Free Kick and hit the bar with it before it was cleared to safety. Then after 20 minutes a simple low ball in from their right found one of their players 20 yards out unmarked and he hit a low shot into the left hand corner of our net. Just after one of many strange (i.e. WRONG !) decisions by the ref when he disallowed a perfectly good equaliser from Molby when he beat the defenders to a long ball in the box, went to the bye line, cut back and chipped it over the keeper. Somehow the linesman, who was not in line with play flagged the ball out even though the ref was closer, it was a bad mistake by the officials, in my opinion. After 30 minutes a high ball into our box, was headed over Mike in goal for their second goal. The high balls were always causing up problems and nobody seemed to want to take charge at the back so these long balls kept on causing problems. Ian Murray had another chance with a chip again from 20 yards but the keeper collected easily.

The second half was even worse than the first other then that there were no  more goals scored. We had the best chance when Molby was fouled in the box by the keeper, but once again we missed the resulting penalty, this time Gibby even after he scored one last week. I've lost count how many already this season we've missed and it really is costing us dear. The remaining time just petered out, no more chances other than a weak Zander effort the keeper easily collected.

We are really going to have to improve on this sort of performance if we are to stand any chance of stying the the Super league and Sunnybank weren't even that good, easily beatable but not by us today.

 

Grahams Report

LACK LUSTRE PERFORMANCE ENDS IN DEFEAT FOR MAUD

Kicking off in sunshine, Maud made a good start and in the 7th minute, good linking play between Murray and Middleton saw a crossed ball fall to Ligertwood who blasted past the post. Good controlling play by Stephen who passed to A Davidson who watched as his cheeky lob over the keeper went over the crossbar. Maud under pressure from Sunnybank's strikers conceded a corner from the right. Crossed in but headed over the bar as Maud's defence stood rooted to the spot. Shortly after Maud survived another scare when poor defending saw Sunnybanks final shot came off the crossbar and was put out for a corner which came to nothing. As Maud cleared up after another attack, B Davidson lost possession just inside Sunnybanks own half. Crossing the ball diagonally across the field to Crombie who pushed goalwards. Picking his moment, Crombie sent in a well drilled shot to the low left of goal which went in past Townson for Sunnybank to take the lead in the 22nd minute. From the restart Maud went on the offensive and equalised through Murray only to have it chalked off for a strange decision from a poorly positioned linesman. Having no luck and most decisions going against them, Mauds heads went further down when in the 31st minute a poor defensive header from Ligertwood went across the goal line and in off the striker before he realised what had happened. Maud spent the remainder of the first half defending their area.

Coming out for the second half, Maud replaced Middleton for Powell. Trying to come back into the game Murray was working hard inside Sunnybanks 18 yard box only to be taken down for a penalty. Up stepped Stephen who blasted low to the keepers right only for Sweeney to guess correct and save the shot. The next 15 minutes saw a flurry of changes made as Maud tried to come back into the game and Sunnybank keeping up the pressure. Murray again looking dangerous turned his marker and crossed to A Davidson whose shot was easily swept up by Sweeney. McGruther replaced an injured Arthur as Sunnybank piled on the pressure. McKay was unlucky not to add to Sunnybank's total as his lobbed shot bounced off the wrong side of the crossbar. Finally the whistle went to signal the end of the game with Sunnybank running out worthy winners. Too little effort from too much players didn't help Maud's chances and we need to start rectifying things. Next week Maud are at home against Cruden Bay in the GA Inter Regional Cup. with a 1.00pm kick off.