FC Polska 3 - Postal ALC 2 - Edmond Trophy - Shedocksley - Saturday 12th April

Postal travelled to Sheddocksley Football Pitches to take on FC Polska in the Edmond Trophy.  FC Polska had a blistering start to the season and are currently 4th in Division 1 East scoring 60+ goals however conceding a similar number so Postal knew the key to todays performance would be putting in a good defensive performance. 

Adam Veitch, Ross Murray and Doug Russell would be all unavailable so Lee Scott came into the starting 11 with Dowbekin taking the centre half position vacated by Veitch.  Macrae and Ahmed returned to the squad.

Team Selection:

Grant Cormack

Steven Carter

Lee Scott

Euan Brechin

Bruce Webster

Kieron Dowbekin

Alex Clark

Phillip Wallace

Harry McAuley

Steven Abel

Duncan MacKenzie

Bench:

David Finch

Martin Maciver

Duncan Paterson

Ali Macrae

Sultan Ahmed

Postal kicked off the match shooting against the slight breeze.

Minute 1 the FC Polska left back sold the keeper short with a pass back, Mackenzie picked up the loose ball but couldn’t find a Postal shirt and the ball went out of play.

2nd minute Mackenzie had a shot easily saved by the FC Polska keeper.  Direct from the keepers kick out Carter loses the ball and number 16 for the hosts had a shot saved by Cormack.

On the 7th minute Postal should have taken the lead, a miskick from the home keeper landed at the feet of Abel who shot from distance however the ball went wide. 

FC Polska won a free kick on the 9th minute, number 7 brought down by Downbekin.  The ball was swung in and cleared by Postal and the resultant long distance effort was saved by Cormack. 

10th minute the Postal sideline were positive they would take the lead as Wallace won the ball and played a great through ball to Abel. As Abel advanced one on one with the keeper, Clark and McAuley raced to his right.  Rather than give his team mates a tap in Abel elected to shoot, the keeper saved however fortunately the ball landed back at Abels feet……electing again to shoot the keeper yet again saved and the ball went out of play.  Real let off for the home side.

On the 11th minute Wallace would again set Postal off on the attack, having a shot at goal the ball rebounded to Abel who was unable to convert.

As so often happens if you don’t take your chances you will ultimately be punished.  A long ball from the FC Polska keeper found number 7 who bundled over Dowbekin, covering Brechin slipped, and number 7 slipped the ball under Cormack to see the homeside take the lead with all three Postal players left on the floor.  Great finish by the forward but Postal will think they should have done better. 

15 min Wallace has a long range effort go wide.

On 20 min Abel through on goal however gets his strike wrong and the ball goes out of play.

32 min a long throw into the box found number 7 leap the highest however Cormack saved the header.

40th min MacKenzie played in on goal, one on one with the keeper the tall striker seen his shot saved again by the FC Polska keeper. 

On the 45th min a short free kick to Dowbekin seen the centre half for the day trip over the ball and allow number 7 to advance on goal, thankfully crowded out before he could get his shot off. 

HT

1 – 0

FC Polska without having the better of the chances were winning the majority of the first and second balls and Postal looking timid in the tackle. 

On the 48th minute Brechin played the ball up the Postal left to Abel, on his heels number 22 nipped in front and advanced down the FC Polska right, crossing he found number 19 who toe poked the ball into the bottom right hand corner of Cormacks goal.  Toe pokes being legal in 11 a side football the home side had doubled their lead.

2 – 0

On the 50th minute FC Polska number 8 advanced up the field of play and unleashed a goal bound shot only for Carter to block and clear the danger.

51st minute ball over the top to Abel seen the winger take the ball down in the box and from 6 yards out slam the ball off the bar.   

52nd minute a much needed moment of luck from Postal, a Clark shot hit McAuley and landed at the feet of MacKenzie.  Taking the ball round 1 he blasted the ball into the roof of the net to pull a goal back for Postal.

2 – 1

54th minute Ahmed replaces McAuley. 

Immediately after his entry to the field on 55 minutes Ahmed takes on the FC Polska left back and cuts the ball back to Mackenzie.  The tall striker knees the ball toward goal, the keeper saves but palms the ball out to Mackenzie who whacks the ball directly off the keeper who is on the ground……..the ball gain comes off the keeper to Mackenzie who again whacks the ball low off the keeper (still on the ground) rather than scoop it over him.  The ball then breaks to Abel who sees his shot cleared off the line.  When its not your day…….

56th min a Wallace corner is met by Brechin who heads over.

Postal now totally dominant pushing for the goal to take them level. Duncan Paterson replaces Lee Scott and pushes up top with Mackenzie.

71 min a Mackenzie reverse pass to Paterson seen the striker bare down on goal however his touch let him down and into the hands of the keeper.

72nd min Ahmed takes on 3 Polska players, hits the byline and cuts the ball back to Mackenzie.  Unfortunately the ball hits his shin and goes wide.

75th minute Macrae replaces Dowbekin.  Maciver replaces Abel

79th minute Carter clears the ball off number 32, ball cannons back towards the Postal goal with number 7 the only one alive to the situation.  Rounds Grant to put the home side further ahead.

3 – 1

85th min Carter wins the ball and plays it into Paterson.  28 yards from goal the striker curls it into the top right hand corner of the goal to give Postal a lifeline.

3 – 2

90th min with Postal pushing forward 32 is one on one with Cormack who saves.

92nd min throw into FC Polska, with Macrae tying his laces 32 again races through only to find Cormack on hand to save again.

FT

3 – 2

Substitutes Not Used – David Finch

MoM – N/A

Postal seen their winning run end today against a hungry FC Polska side.  Although having far and away the greater number of chances, Postal looked tired, timid and devoid of effort, everything that FC Polska didn’t look.  Not chasing back, committing to tackles and unable to play consecutive passes together made it a tough day at the office.  That said the management team can take comfort in the amount of chances created in what was one of our worst performances of the season.

FC Polska were clinical in their finishing today and won the majority of the first and second balls, we wish them good luck in the next round.