North Region Superleague

A few changes today with Steven Powell, Zander and Dane making a return to the first team. The first few minutes were mainly about the teams settling down but we were starting to play some nice stuff with Gav on the left causing problems for their number 7 from the start. After only 7 minutes we had scored, a great ball into John Willox on the edge of their box saw him ghost (!) past a defender and hit a great dipping shot over the keeper and into the net. A couple of minutes later saw John play Richie into the box and although it looked easier to score (it always does from the dugout!) he couldn’t get it past the keeper at close range and it was cleared. Next up was a chance for Dane but again he didn’t take his chance. On 16 minutes Razor got the ball in the middle and made a run towards goal, he hit a powerful shot on target but it was blocked on the edge of the box where Zander latched onto it but he blasted over. On 21 mins Mark got onto a loosely defended ball on the left and laid the ball across their goal but nobody was following it up then just after John again got into the box and looked like he would score but the keeper made a fantastic save for a corner, bar steward ! On 23 mins Gav fancied a shot from 20 yards but it didn’t trouble the keeper, just the seagulls ! On 28 mis Zander got on a run down the right but with Dane waiting in the middle he could only trouble the same seagulls behind the goal ! All these misses were to prove costly on 36 minutes when a simple lofted ball into the box was missed by all the defenders and their forward headed it past Scott for the equaliser. A minute later Gav took a free kick out on the left, onto Dane who laid it to Zander but again it was over the bar. Just before the break the linesman totally missed an offside and they broke free with only Scott to beat but he did fantastic to save a low hard shot to stop them taking an undeserved lead. And that was it for the first 45.

To be honest the 2nd half was a non event for both teams, after 6 mins Jas had a go from 20 yards but it was well over.  Then 21 minutes into the second half Iain had a go but that was cleared then on 36 Dane won the ball in their box but his low shot was saved. And that was that !

We should have had the game wrapped up in the first half, just like last week, but the lack of a kiiler punch is costing us games, hopefully next week against Hall Russells at home we can put it right.

Match Stats

Grahams Report

MAUD SHARE THE SPOILS WITH THE DEE.

Kicking off it took both teams a while to find their feet. Both teams were playing attacking football and in the seventh minute a long ball from Cowe in Maud's goal bounced over the defender and flicked on by Ballard onto Willox. Going past his marker he calmly lined up his shot and sent it in past Pennet in goals for Maud to take the lead. A minute later Ligertwood should have made it two when he went one on one with the keeper but shot straight into his arms. Banks o Dee had their first real chance in the 16th minute when a soft free kick went their way, hit in low and hard it rebounded out and was fired in well over the bar. A great ball in from Rae was picked up by Willox who jinxed past 2 defenders and forced a great save from Pennet and out by the defender for a corner which came to nothing. Good play out on the right by Davidson whose shot went over the  bar. Finally in the 36th minute perseverance from the Dee paid off when a mistake by McDonald let Reid through to finish off the equaliser. Maud won a free kick left of the 18 yard box which was crossed in and cleared as far as Davidson whose shot flew over the bar. Dee broke up the right and a blatant offside was missed by the dugout assistant who seemed unable to keep up with play but Cowe was on form in goals and denied the Dee the lead. Both teams went in at the interval sharing the spoils.

Coming out for the second half both teams resumed an attacking game. Willox picked up a needless yellow after disputing the refs decisions after being constantly fouled. Again Cowe was called into action when the Dee broke through and pulled off another great save but was forced to spill the powerful shot which thankfully was cleared away.The Dee won a free kick just outside the 18 yard box. Crossed in it was well punched clear by Cowe in goals. A good run down the left by the Dee striker was finished by a shot well over the bar. Maud replaced Davidson for McKechnie followed by Jamieson for Ballard to try and find that elusive winning goal. Play went from end to end as the clock ticked down and time finally ran out and the game ended all square. A vastly improved performance from Maud with some great individual displays so we can now look forward to our league game next week at home to Hall Russell United with a 2.30pm KO.