Maud PBC 2  Dyce BC 1 (HT 1-1)

ADJFA U14 League A

Sunday 2.5.10

Fraser; Fulton, Calder, Masson, Daniel; Robertson, McLean, Burr, Barbour; Anderson, Gibb

Subs: Deakin, Mair, McCafferty, Turriff

Maud produced a determined and disciplined performance to fight back from a goal behind and claim victory, with a deserved brace from Gibb, against a Dyce side they have never previously beaten.

Both sides’ attempts to play a passing game on a good surface and in clear, still overhead conditions led to an entertaining contest which saw the initiative change hands several times.

Dyce grabbed that initiative after 5 minutes when they won a corner on the right which led to a goalmouth stramash (copyright A Montford) and ultimately saw the ball being forced home.

This clearly boosted the Aberdeen side’s confidence for the opening quarter but Maud showed sufficient grit to survive this phase and gradually start to impose themselves on their opponents.

They created their first scoring chance on 15 minutes. An assured clearing header from Daniel found Barbour in left midfield. He played a first time ball on the run into the left side of the penalty box where Gibb collected, made space and fired in a rasping left foot shot across the keeper who got down smartly to palm it away.

Daniel then volleyed over from 20 yards after Burr and Barbour had combined well to set him up.

Dyce were still dangerous on the counter-attack and it took a superb covering run and perfectly timed tackle from Fulton to snuff out one particularly threatening break.

Maud then drew level in the 23rd minute. Barbour made ground down the left flank with a powerful run which allowed him to whip in a low, driven cross. This was cleared under severe pressure but only as far as Robertson wide right. Lee steadied himself and sent over a great ball which GIBB guided past the keeper with a composed sidefoot finish after nipping in front of his marker.

Fraser then proved his worth by twice keeping Maud on level terms. First he dived full-length low to his right to make a brilliant one handed save from a fierce 15 yard drive. Then on 33 minutes he thwarted another Dyce forward who had created an opening with an impressive display of control and quick feet.

Just before half-time a free-kick 30 yards out wide right was shelled into the Dyce box by Calder for Gibb to send a header just over the bar.

After half-time Maud gradually took control of the game and this was illustrated when great strength and determination from Fulton carried him through a series of challenges in midfield to win a corner. This came to nothing but on 53 minutes Maud took the lead with a stunning free-kick from GIBB. There seemed to be no immediate danger when a needless handball by a Dyce defender conceded the award 25 yards out. James needed no second invitation to blast a fantastic rising shot into the postage stamp corner with the keeper grasping thin air.

This seemed to deflate Dyce for a spell and a great piece of keepy-uppy from Barbour took him past two defenders into space wide left where he fired a cross-shot into the side net.

Mair replaced Anderson on 57 minutes as Maud switched to five in midfield with Gibb ploughing a lone furrow up front.

Two minutes later Fulton was winded in a challenge with the Dyce keeper and was replaced by Turriff who went to left back with Daniel pushing forwards to left midfield.

Shortly before full-time, Maud created the best move of the game which displayed not only their skill but also their fitness and teamwork. McLean retained possession and cleverly used the overlapping Robertson as a decoy to play Burr into the inside right channel. With more than one voice urging Hamish to shoot, he shaped to do so but then astutely switched the focus of the attack by unselfishly rolling a pass across the face of the goal to Gibb. There was nothing wrong with his side-foot finish but, unfortunately, the keeper produced a great save to deny James his hat-trick.

This result confirms Maud as 3rd placed team in the Aberdeen & District league’s top tier with an outside chance of 2nd if Dyce slip up in the last round of fixtures. Irrespective of that, a good performance and result in their last game of the season against Broomhill would put the seal on what has already been an excellent season for the lads and their coaches, with their league form being mirrored by a strong run of impressive results which carried them to a very narrow away defeat in the quarter-finals of the Scottish Cup.