Maud PBC U14s v ALC Lewis

Great Northern Trophies League A

Sunday 23.8.09 10.30am

MATCH REPORT

Maud PBC 6 ALC Lewis 1(HT 2-0)

Maud team line:

Fraser (L Cordiner 49); Robertson, Calder, Masson, Daniel; Anderson, Burr (McCafferty 49), McLean, Simpson (Turriff 43);  Deakin, R Cordiner (Mair 35)

An excellent team performance, which allied hard work and grit to a healthy dose of flair, led Maud to a well deserved victory in their first ever competitive fixture. They also overcame a physical ALC Lewis team in wet & windy conditions with one of last season’s key figures, Barbour, sidelined with an injury.

The tense early stages were typical curtain-raiser fare with both sides putting the emphasis on settling into the game through a safety first approach.

Gradually, however, Maud took control with Daniel & Simpson repeatedly linking to good effect down the left flank and Masson immediately showing his value to the team with some commanding challenges and forceful runs. This trend was to continue throughout the first half and the first real opening came on 10 minutes when Daniel won possession at left back, drove on and sent a ball over the top for Simpson to race onto. His direct run to the bye line allowed him to swing over a dangerous cross which eluded both defence and attack.

The next chance saw McLean collect a throw in wide left to wheel and fire off a shot which was blocked but fell to Burr at the edge of the box. His volley was well struck but straight at the keeper.

A good passage of play then ended with Anderson cutting in from the inside right channel and to pick out Deakin but some desperate defending saw the ball scrambled away.

The increasing pressure paid off on 20 minutes when Deakin sprung the Lewis defence with a measured pass to CORDINER who carried it on before slipping a composed finish under the keeper’s dive.

Maud were well on top now and Burr drove through midfield to find Simpson with a diagonal pass behind the opposing right back. He produced another excellent cross but again there were no takers.

Simpson then tried his luck with a 20 yard snap-shot which flew just over the bar after slick interplay between Anderson, Deakin & Cordiner set him up.

MCLEAN doubled Maud’s lead on 27 minutes with his low right foot drive leaving the keeper well beaten after Cordiner had gathered another Simpson cross and unselfishly rolled it into his strike partner’s path.

Just before half time Deakin cleverly flicked on a Daniel throw in for Simpson to race onto and send over a low searching cross to Anderson who hammered a rising drive marginally too high.

Mair replaced Cordiner at the break to partner Burr in Central midfield with McLean switching to wide right.

Almost immediately BURR extended the lead to 3-0, slotting home a well controlled drive from 15 yards.

DEAKIN then pounced to make it 4-0 from close range after a strong right wing run and cross from McLean.

Superb skill and strength by Deakin saw him hold off a strong challenge before slipping an incisive pass to ANDERSON who outstripped the defence and lashed home for 5-0 despite the impressive Lewis keeper getting a glove on it.

The keeper then denied Daniel what would have been a superb bending free kick from 25 yards with a fantastic save high to his left after Masson’s surging run to the edge of the area drew a foul.

MCLEAN doubled his tally on 47 minutes when the keeper initially held his 20 yard snapshot only for it to slip through his grasp and into the net.

Shortly after Masson was just off target with a prodigious drive from more than 30 yards out after Mair had battled to win possession in midfield.

There was little Cordiner could do on 55 minutes when Lewis scored a consolation goal for 6-1 after their striker was put clean through to fire just inside the post.

As the game petered out as a contest Burr returned to replace Mair who was hurt when sent tumbling by a sandwich from two Lewis midfielders.

All in all, the lads and coaches can be well pleased with an excellent first day at the office which sets them up nicely for next Sunday’s (30 August) clash with Albion BC at Grandholm.