My Report
Well the day finally arrived when the lads woud play another game in a history making season with our first every foray into the laast 32 of the Scottish Junior Cup. Arriving at the ground I hoped that we would at least have a full strength squad for Kris and Billy to pick from but when everyone arrived it was obvious we were well short with Kris and Jonny Mcgru having to make up numbers on the bench.

Still the lads took to the park and immediately tried to make an impression even though physically they were always going to edge it given the size of some of the buggers!  we got a free kick after 8 minutes in a good area wide left just outside their box but Zanders effort was headed away for a corner. we got another one 5 minutes later but this time the ball went into the box but nobody could get on the end of it, a minute later yet another one was taken by Zander again but this time it went narrowly past the post. In between this they were getting some joy down the left and they threw in loads of high balls into the box but we seemed to be handling it. Then after 23 minutes they picked up the ball just outside the box, their forward ran into the middle of the penalty area on the wrong side of someone defending (no names!) and he took his legs away for a stonewall penalty. Not a brilliant start but hang on, Pauls in goal! One of their player (obviously!) hit the pen to Pauls left and he flung himself across to palm it out and it was cleared to safety. A fantastic save from Paul and one that was vital to keep us in the game and the heads up. It turned out to be a significant save because 3 minutes later we went ahead. Some great work in the right of their penalty area by John Willox ended up with him trying a shot from almost the goal line, it hit some of their defenders and bounced up across the goal line where Gibby nodded it into the net !!  Fantastic goal and a great confidence booster. Paul again came to the rescue twice before half time when a long range shot was creeping inside his left post but again he dived at full stretch to push it onto the post and away. Just before he had a low save to make from another shot outside the box. So in at half time 1 - 0 up and we knew the 2nd half would be hard work if we wanted to keep it like that.

After only 1 minute Gibby was fouled outside the box on the left (this was one of many on Gibby that was not punished, persistent fouls ref eh!) John Usher curled the ball over the right of the wall but the keeper held onto it under the bar. Then after 11 minutes disaster struck, what looked like an innocuous ball down inside our box was turned across before we could react and it ran across the goal to their forward waiting at the far post to score the equaliser, arse. We started off again trying to put some dangerous balls into their box, on 12 minutes Gibby got the ball about 12 yards out but his turn and shot was saved inside the post.  The 2 minutes later yet another free kick by Zander was tipped around the post by the keeper/ Ritchie then should have troubled the keeper more with s shot from 12 yards but it was far too weak. After 22 minutes Thornton were reduced to 10 ment when their No 7 slide in for a tackle that didn't seem too bad but the ref obviously spotted something more and gave him a red card. To be honest that really effected us more then them because we then seemed to back off and not really push forward the advantage, giving them far too much time on the ball despite having a man advantage.  Then 7 minutes from time the killer blow, a simple ball into our box onto the head of one of their players who was facing away from the goal ended up with him getting his head to the ball and it looped over Paul and into the net.

It was a cruel end to the match because the lads had really put everything into the game and come away with nowt, lots of hard work and effort but not enough to win against an experienced Junior team.

 

Grahams Report

NO TASTE OF SWEET SUCCESS FOR MAUD AT THORNTON
Kicking off with a depleted squad Maud gave a good account of themselves and started to believe that they could maybe just edge this game. First chance to score came from a clearance out which fell to Pirie but it was blasted wide. Winning a free kick left of the 18 yard box, it was launched in by A Davidson and knocked across the goal but out for a corner to nothing. This was followed by another free kick five minutes later but this time A Davidson sent it just past the post. Not to be outdone, Thornton were building up attacks up the stand side using their ground knowledge to good advantage but Maud were defending well. Finally a through ball onto Wright who cut into the box area only to be taken down in the 24th minute. A stonewall penalty, Up stepped Dickson and blasted his shot goalwards to the left of Leask. Guessing correctly Leask dived to his left and palmed the ball out for a corner to nothing. Getting a lift from this Maud upped the tempo and won a corner from the right. Taken short to Willox who danced his way inside the box and sent a shot across the goal line to be headed in by Stephen from less than a foot out in the 29th minute. Thornton rose to the occasion and pummelled Mauds goal with only Leask in terrific form to deny them time and time again. the dying minutes of the first half, a great run up the stand side by Dudsley who sent in a cross over to the left post for McDonald to fail to make proper contact and miss the opportunity to equalise. In the dying seconds Cunningham received the only yellow of the game for arguing with the ref.
The second half started with Maud on the defensive as Thornton used their height and physical strength to good advantage. Finally in the 56th minute a poorly cleared ball from Maud's defence was picked up on by Dudsley and finished off for the equaliser. Stephen was unlucky not to double his tally as after some jinxy play could only blast his shot straight into the keepers hands. Again Wright of Thornton on a run up the right managed to get himself into a position but could only shoot into the side netting. A good long ball up the right to S Whyte who sent in a lovely cross which was cleared out to Ligertwood whose 12 yard shot did not trouble the keeper. Rae in defence did well to stop a Thornton attack up the left but it was marred by a studs up challenge on him by McDonald who received a straight red for his trouble. With 15 minutes remaining and both teams striving for victory another piece of bad luck hit Maud as A Davidson had to be carried off with a pulled hamstring muscle. With A Whyte thrown on to replace him, Maud could not seem to make the man advantage count. With seven minutes remaining Thornton forced a corner from the right. Launched in it was cleared out only to come off the back of McAinsh's head and loop over the hands of Leask in goals. Desperately trying to force a draw, Maud attacked Thornton's goal with everything they could muster but the heavy conditions and finally the clock beat them ending their Scottish cup dream. An excellent performance by all team players who did everything they were asked of and should be proud of themselves and their club. A big thank you to all travelling support and we hope to see you all this saturday when Maud are at home to New Elgin in the Norsco Cup with a 1.45pm kick off.