North Section Superleague

My Match Report

With only our 2nd game since 5th December and also quite a few missing, todays game was always going to be hard and especially against todays opposition who always like the physical approach !

There wasn’t a lot happening early on and it took until the 11th minute to get our first, sort of, shot from John Willox who turned in the box but shot over. On 17 minutes John again got the ball this time on the half way line and played Dane into space down the left but although he was clear on goal he was caught by the defenders and the goalkeeper somehow managed to smother the shot. The game settled into a bit of a battle, not physically, but territorially because nobody took the initiative and it was a bit boring !  On 24 minutes a speculative shot from East End from 30 yards out was comfortably tipped over the bar by Scott. The only other thing of note was a shot from Mark from outside the box that hit the back of their defenders and was cleared. Luckily half time came and to be honest, not too soon either !

The 2nd half started better for us with a fair bit of pressure on their goal for the first 10 minutes without any real shots on goal except for Stevie Whyte who’s shot from 20 yards was blaocked and cleared. Then on 17 minutes, after a few niggly fouls, we got a free kick around 30 yards out what Gav took and picked out Richie in the box and he pulled back off the keeper and headed over him and into the net, 1 - 0. A coule of minutes later Dane broke down the left and with the keeper to beat hit it across goal but it missed the far post. On 20 minutes Dane and John were replaced by Zander and Shaun  and it marked a big improvement in our forward play. Just after coming on Shaun played the ball down the inside channel to Zander but his shot was saved. On 24 minutes another Gav free kick was saved by the keeper, it was pushed out wide left where it was played back into the box where Stevie hit another shot the keeper saved for a corner. It was well taken right not Shauns head at the far post and although it looked easier to score (from the dug out!) he headed past the post.  On 34 minutes Shaun again played Zander in this time on his own in the middle with just the keeper to beat but he pulled it past the post when again it looked easier to score.  Just after more good play on the edge of their box saw Richie fouled, penalty. Stevie took it but smashed it against the right hand post and it rebounded back across the goal and was cleared. A minute later, the referee, who had been pretty bad for both teams throughout, sent Jas off for a couple of yellow cards in the space of 10 seconds ! This evened up the teams now because East End also had a played sent off about 10 minutes earlier for throwing the ball at the ref ! On 38 minutes another chance went begging when Zander played Stevie into the box with just the keeper to beat but this time he hit the right hand post !  With 2 minutes to go a loose ball across our back line resulted in an East End player 1 on 1 with Scott but he pulled off a fantastic save to deny the equaliser. East End also got incensed when they thought they had equalised again at the death but it was rightly chalked offside.

The game really kicked off after the substitutions and we could and should have won easilly but not converting those chances made for a squeeky arsed last 5 minutes (pule 5 added time for god knows what) but in the end it was a hard won 3 points which is great after such a long break.

Nest week back to the rescheduled Cup game against FC Stoneywood.

Match Stats

Grahams Match Report

MAUD NEARLY RUE MISSED CHANCES

Kicking off this game with a severely depleted team, Maud were forced to reshuffle the team and try and take the game to East End. First chance of the game fell to East End but the final delivery went way over the bar as Maud's defence were posted missing. The game settled into a midfield battle with neither team managing to convert the final piece of play. A good ball down the left from Willox was latched onto by Ballard but couldn't finish off the move. Cowe tipped over a long range shot from East End after a mistake by Whyte allowed them room to manoeuvre. Two yellow cards were handed out to East End in quick succession. Best move of the game for Maud came from a long ball through to Willox who squared the ball across the goals for Ligertwood who could not finish off and allowed East End to clear the danger. The first half came to a close with neither team gaining an advantage. 

Coming out for the second half, Maud upped the tempo but East End dug deep and weathered the storm. McDonald of Maud received a  yellow card for blocking off an East End attack down the left wing. East End again attacked down the left through Watt but Usher came to the rescue and stopped the danger giving away a free kick which was wasted. Finally in the 59th minute Maud won a free kick about 30 yards out on the left wing. Launched in by Middleton to the far post to be met by the head of Ligertwood and went in over the helpless Cameron for Maud to take the lead. Ballard missed an opportunity to further increase Maud's lead from a good ball through to him was shot past the right post. Maud were starting to take control of the game and again a great diagonal ball to Whyte at the far post was wasted when he shot straight at Cameron in goals who deflected the shot out for a corner. Crossed in by Davidson only for Jamieson to head past the left post. A good ball won by Jamieson onto A Davidson who slipped his marker to go one on one with the keeper only to send the ball wide of the mark and out past the post. Again good play by Davidson who was causing East End all sorts of problems since coming off the bench sent a great ball onto Ligertwood who got as far as inside the 18 yard box before the defender took him down. No hesitation by the ref as he pointed to the penalty spot. Up stepped Whyte who after sending Cameron the wrong way could only watch as the thundering shot came back out off the left post. East End attacked on the break only for McDonald to put in a challenge which earned him a weak yellow card and ultimately his marching orders. With only six or seven minutes remaining Maud were still prepared to take the game to East End but were nearly caught out as east End broke through but a great shot stopper of a save from Cowe in goals kept Maud in front. A let off for Maud in the dying minutes as East End scored only for the far side assistant to chalk it off for being offside. Frustrations were running high in the East End team as Thomson was sent off for throwing and hitting the ref with the ball. Maud held out and eventually ran out winners in a game which East End thought they deserved something and Maud nearly counting the cost of missed chances. This week Maud are at home to FC Stoneywood in the McLeman Cup with a 2.15pm K.O.

Some great photos from Ali McKechnie, from last weeks game against East End, many thanks for the link

This is Richies goal but there are heaps more on Alis photopage HERE