Alford 1 - Postal ALC 0 - Div1 North - Wed 23/4/2025 - Alford

Postal travelled out to Alford to face the league leaders.  Previous encounters this season had seen Postal claim victory in the league cup at home and Alford taking 3 points in the league at Webster Park.  The Alford pitch was in amazing condition being played on the grass.

With McAuley missing due to work MacKenzie came back into the starting line up.  Abel moved out to the right wing with Russell moving in one to the centre of the park to combat Alfords strong midfield.  Focus was on stopping the Alford wingers getting any crosses into the Postal box which had caused us issues in the previous encounter. 

Team Selection:

Grant Cormack

Steven Carter

Doug Russell

Euan Brechin

Scott Stuart

Kieron Dowbekin

Alex Clark

Sultan Ahmed

Steven Abel

Duncan MacKenzie

Bench:

David Finch

Phillip Wallace

Bruce Webster

Ali Macrae

Adam Veitch

Alford kicked off the match. 

1st minute Steele played the ball out from defence to Abel, the winger fed the ball through to Mackenzie who slipped in Clark, running through on goal the ref called for offside.

2nd minute Abel advanced down the Postal right before cutting back to the strong running Russell who seen his shot blocked for a corner.

3rd min Alford almost took the lead.  Steele shielded the ball back to Cormack, Cormack didn’t come, neither took responsibility and the Alford forward almost nipping in.  Fortunately the ball was cleared.

5th min a Carter misses the flight of the ball, Steele comes out of defence to make the interception however Alford knock it past him and have a 2 on 1 with Brechin.  Luckily Brechin tackled well and advanced with the ball to safety.

10th and 13th minute number 2 wins the ball direct from corners however easily caught by Cormack in goal.

Postal were the better team, pressing Alford hard and winning the majority of the first and second balls in the middle of the park.  Playing excellent football however the Alford defence were resolute.

25th min a 50/50 challenge in the middle of the park seen number 4 go over the ball and onto Dowbekins ankle.  Yellow card brandished which could easily have been a red. 

28th and 29th minute corners for Postal as the away side applied pressure however came to nothing.

30th minute Ahmed advances into the Alford box, rather than shoot first time the winger cut back and the momentum was lost seeing his shot blocked.

31st minute number 2 wins yet another header from a corner however went wide.

Alford would come into the game and have the better of the remaining 15 minutes of the half particularly with number 16 on the left wing swinging in dangerous crosses.

38th min 16 fires across goal, 10 hits his shot into the ground and makes life easy for Cormack.

HT

0 – 0

Postal started the second half well.

46th minute Ahmed advanced down the Postal left crossing for Russell who seen his shot blocked on the line with the away sideline calling for handball. 

48th minute Ahmed again crossed from the Postal left, beating everyone Abel picked up the ball and cut it back for Russell who seen his shot go over the bar.

50th minute Postal management replaced Russell with Wallace, when in truth the energy of Russell could have been better utilised on the pitch as some of the players tired later in the match.

52nd min Alford played the ball through to number 4 slipping into number 10 who seen his cross flash across the goal with no takers.

55th minute Wallace came into his own, taking on at least 5 men and unleashing a shot well saved by the Alford keeper and out for a corner.

58th minute Wallace again took on the Alford defence this time not connecting well with his shot and fell into the arms of the keeper.

65th minute Wallace found himself through on goal however again the keeper saved well.  Rebounding Wallace attempted an overhead kick that went wide. Really good play and unfortunate not to see Postal take the lead.

70th minute ball into the Postal box finds 6 all alone however Cormack saved his header.

On the 73rd minute disaster for Postal.  Cormack rolled the ball out to Captain Steele, taking on number 10 his second touch was too heavy and led to being dispossessed.  Ball reached number 6 some 30 yards out and with Cormack out his goal his long range effort found the net. 

75th min Webster replaces Scott

1 – 0

78th minute Wallace had a shot from the edge of the box saved.

83rd min Veitch replaces Brechin

90th minute Cormack saves well from number 9 who rounded Veitch and unleashed a shot.

On the 93rd minute Postal should have equalised, a Carter throw into the box landed at Clarks waist middle left of the middle of the box, volleying his shot went wide of the post much to the relief of the Alford sideline.  

FT

1 – 0

Substitutes Not Used – David Finch & Ali Macrae

MoM – James Steele

Really good performance from Postal tonight and certainly didn’t deserve to come away without anything.  Pressing, energy, passing all of a very high level.  On another night we walk away with the 3 points.  Congratulations to Alford, defended well and finished their chance when it came along.