McLemon Cup

On a good day to play football, we only managed 25 minutes out of the 90 and so deservedly went out of the last Cup competition.

The lads started off really well, pushing Stoneywood back from the kick off and after only 6 minutes Gav got the ball out left and laid it across to Richie in the middle of the park 18 yards out but his shot was weak and didn’t trouble the keeper. A minute later analmost identical build up saw Richi inside the box this time going past the defender but his well hit shot was well saved at the foot of the post, from the resulting corner the ball went in but was cleared only to John who put it onto Shauns head but it was wide of the goal. Another Richie shot was then blocked for another corner. Then after 13 minutes  Derek got into the box and laid it back to Gav but his shot was also blocked for a corner. Eventually the pressure paid off when John got the ball in the box to his feet with his back to goal, the defender went through him and the ref gave a pen, a bit soft but who cares ! Jas took a perfect penalty to put us 1 - 0 up and in complete control, not for much longer though. We kept putting them under pressure and after 24 minutes John tired a turn and shot from outside the box but it was saved and then Iain latched onto a weak clearance but his shot from 25 yards was well over the bar, it actually came back with snow on it ! Then it looked like we packed up and went home. Stoneywood found themselves with a lot more time on the ball and slowly they were creating chances. A soft free kick was given 35 yards out to them by the ref, who looked like he was trying to compensate them for the soft penalty, however when the ball was playied into our box nobody picked up the forward who simply ran onto the ball on the penalty spot and picked his spot to head them level. Not learning from mistakes is becoming a bit of a recurring theme (such as last week) but to concede the 2nd goal in similar circumstances was bad. They got the ball wide right after we lost possession, ex Maud player Neil Cowie swept a great ball into the box and again an unchallenged header went past Scott and into the net. We did well to keep it to that up to half time bur hopefully a rollocking from the management would help.

Wrong !

Despite a few home truths and substitutions of Derek and Shaun for Dane and Zander, we looked no more likely to score than before. Scott actually had to make a great tip over save to prevent their 3rd goal when a simple dropped ball over the top found their forward clear. Around the 65 minute mark we had our best chance to equalise when 3 chances went begging. Firstly Jason got the ball in the box from the left but his low shot was blocked out for a corner, 2 great chances from Mark saw the first one get to Richie but his header hit the ground in front of the keeper and bounce over after getting a touch. The next one found Richie again but this time his header hit the bar. And really that was it except for one free kick from 35 yards that Gavin optimistically tried to beat the keeper with and failed and then Dane tried a header from a deep cross from Zander but it went right at the keeper. Bruce had to come off with 10 minutes to go after getting studs through the knee on the edge of the box, the Stoneywood played getting his marching orders for the horrendous tackle.

So FC Stoneywood have twice come to Maud this season and knocked us out of a cup competition. and I’m not trying to be unkind, but really, we should be beating teams like this if we are going to progress and we cant afford to sit back and admire fancy footwork if the hard work isn’t put in first.

Hopefully they will learn, and quickly.

Match Stats

LACKLUSTRE MAUD BEATEN BY 10 MAN STONEYWOOD

Kicking off in the first home game since early December in this cup tie against FC Stoneywood, Maud started lively. A good run down the right side from McKechnie whose cross in found Ligertwood but Gibson bravely dived at his feet and collected the ball. Almost immediately Middleton sent in another great ball to Ligertwood who jinxed past his marker but the shot was deflected out past the post by Gibson for a corner to nothing. Maud kept up the pressure with Middleton getting inside the 18yard box and 2 shots were hastily cleared out. Maud broke through Stoneywoods defence and went for goal only for the dugout side assistant to rule offside. In the 20th minute Willox got inside the 18yard box only to be taken down by Goodbrand and the ref to award a penalty. Up stepped McDonald who duly converted the spot kick. Arthur picked up a loose ball deep inside Maud's own half and was allowed to travel to well inside Stoneywoods half and send in a shot that would have scored 3 points in any rugby game. Stoneywood gradually crept back into the game but their first real chance on goal was well off target. Finally their perseverance paid off when in the 37th minute from a free kick from just inside the Maud half. Crossed into the danger area for an unmarked Brooks to run in and head past Cowe for the equaliser. Not learning from their mistakes cost Maud dearly when in the 41st minute again a crossed in ball was allowed to be met by the head of unmarked Skinner who finished off nicely for Stoneywood to take the lead.

A blast at half time from the management and swapping Ballard and A Davidson for McKechnie and Jamieson did nothing to assist Maud to come back into the game. An end to end midfield battle developed with neither team taking advantage. Stoneywood nearly added to their tally when a long ball from the left was floated in but an alert Cowe tipped it out for a corner which came to nothing. In the 65th minute McDonald had a chance for the equaliser but Gibson denied for a corner. Crossed in by Campbell it fell to the head of Ligertwood who saw Gibson again push it out for another corner. Crossed in again only for Ligertwood to head off the crossbar and Stoneywood finally clear the danger. Up at the other end a goal line clearance kept Maud in with a shout which never really looked like developing. A Maud free kick launched in by A Davidson was headed by Ligertwood straight into the arms of Gibson. In the 78th minute a shocking tackle by Fyvie who had only been on the field a few minutes on B Davidson who was unable to continue in the game. A red card was flashed by the ref and Fyvie got his marching orders reducing Stoneywood to 10 men. Maud had a few chances from a series of corners all to no avail. The final whistle finally went and for the second time this season FC Stoneywood knocked Maud out of a cup. A very lacklustre performance by Maud who at times seamed not to be really up for this game but hopefully can sort themselves out for next weeks home game against Banks O Dee with a 2.30pm KO.  

Grahams Report