This was our first return to League action since 5th January and we wanted to get back to winning ways to at least keep the pressure on those teams around us, Turriff being one of them.

The lads started off like a house on fire, after only 2 minutes Neil won the ball inside their box on the right, he put a great ball across to Zander at the far post but his powerful header was tipped onto the post by their keeper and it was cleared. 5 minutes later Zander got the ball wide left, took on the defenders and crossed it waste high where it was met by Ritchie in the 6 yard box, his sidefooted volley went narrowly wide though. On 11 minutes is was Gibbys turn to have a shot, this time it went over the bar. Turriff had their chances as well and only a headed clearance by Razor off the line prevented them scoring.  On 23 minutes Zander again had a shot but the keeper again made a full length save to keep it out. Zander was having one of his days on the left and they didn't seem able to cope with his runs, another one on 27 minutes went into John Willox but it bounced in front of him and he wasn't able to bring it down quick enough to get a shot on goal. On 32 minutes Gibby knocked the ball on to Zander and this time his powerful shot cannoned off the crossbar. Just before the break John got the ball at his feet on the edge of the box, he turned and shot but it went wide. It was a  good performance so far and with the chances at both ends it was amazing how it was goalless at half time.

The 2nd half started off like the first, a long high ball into their box was dropping towards the far post, Gibby managed to get to it and head it back across goal but nobody had followed it in. On 5mnutes it looked like we'd got the breakthrough, some great play between John Usher and Willox in the box ended up with him getting flattened, penalty. Unfortunately the penalty was, er, how can I put it, I know, it was crap ! A weak low shot to the keepers left which he flopped down onto and saved, sorry John ! After 18 minutes we nearly paid for the miss when Turriff had a shot off our post. Then on 22 minutes, Stevie Powell, who had come on for an injured Gav, took the ball from John WIllox and crossed it into the box where it was met by Ritchies head, unfortunately because its shaped like a 50p piece, the header went over the bar ! Turriff had started to cause us some problems down our right and they had a few chances to score but luckily their finishing was no better than ours. They then had a great chance to score on 26 minutes from a cross on our left, it was met at the far post by one of their players but his header only frightened the pigeons on the roof of the nice new Pavilion ! They had another similar chance soon after, their heads must be as bad as ours. On 34 mins a Gibby knock onto Zander on the left resulted in a cross into the box but the keeper held onto it. On 39 minutes they broke down our left, with only Mark to beat in goal they hit their shot across him but it want past the far post. On 44 minutes we had to scramble the ball off our line twice in a  minute as they pushed for the winner. Then with 92 minutes played, the best part of the game ! A long ball up to Gibby just inside their half was knocked over the defence, their No.2 went to clear it as it bounced up but with Zander chesing him down he made a complete cock of it and as we ended up on his arse Zander took the ball on, into the box and coolly knocked it past their keeper for the winning goal, absolutely fookin fantastic !!!

The game could easily have ended 5 - 4 to either team but this was revenge for the first game of the season when we battered them at Turriff, missed a penalty and got beat 1 - 0. So this win now sets us up nicely for next weeks home game against Hermes then the following week against East End away.

 

 

Grahams report

LAST GASP GOAL EARNS MAUD VICTORY
The game kicked off fast and furious and within minutes the ref had to try and calm the players down for rash tackles. Maud's first chance came when Cowie sent in a long ball to the back post which was headed off the post and scrambled clear. Pushing forwards, a great run up the left by A Davidson who sent in a lovely crossed in ball to Ligertwood who couldn't connect properly and send the shot past the post. Slack play in midfield by Willox who lost possession ending up putting the defence under pressure. Turriff were unlucky as a launched in ball was headed past the right post by the unmarked striker. A loose ball picked up by A Davidson who cut in towards the goal but the final shot was well held by Buchanan. Turriff were frustrated as Rae was thought to have brought down the striker inside the box but the ref waved play on. A Maud free kick was lobbed in to A Davidson whose shot was parried out by Buchanan as far as Cowie. Sending in a header goalwards, somehow Buchanan recovered and managed to gather up the ball. Turriff upped the tempo but poor finishing denied them a goal. Good defending by Arthur inside the box saw Lobbin receive a yellow for arguing that he was deliberately blocked off from the ball. Maud were forced to defend the last few minutes of the first half as Turriff pressed forwards.
The second half started the same as the first half finished with Maud defending. Finally a foray into the Turriff box ended when Willox was brought down. Penalty, Willox elected to take it himself but sent in a weak effort low to the left of the keeper who guessed correctly and saved the shot. pressure mounted on both teams as the tackles got harder and harder and free kick followed free kick. Powell replaced Middleton who was struggling with an ankle knock followed shortly by Cowie being replaced by S Whyte. Turriff won a free kick which was taken quickly onto McKenzie whose shot rattled off the bar and was cleared. A good through ball from Powell onto the head of Ligertwood who was unlucky to see the header fly over the bar. Maud were living dangerously as Turriff put in a series of shots all of which missed the target. Forcing corners from both sides Turriff sent in high balls all of which were dealt with by Maud's defence. A long ball down the left by Stephen found A Davidson who cut inside his marker but could only shoot into the keepers arms. Turriff managed to break up the right and only good goal keeping by Kerr kept the score level. Again McKenzie was unlucky not to score as Maud's defence switched off. Finally in injury time a long cleared ball upfield was miss hit by the defender and picked up by the fast running in A Davidson. Calmly picking his spot he shot past the keeper to clinch the game for Maud. Another 3 points on the score board which now must surely guarantee that Maud are playing Superleague next season. Next week Maud are at home to Hermes with a 2.30pm kick off.