Fyvie 3 - Postal A.L.C. 4
Postal travelled to Fyvie for this Division 1 encounter. The two sides had never met previously however Fyvie have been on a steady trajectory in recent years and have accomplished what few others have in the amateur game with a first class set up.
Connor Graham
Mitchell Phillips
Adam Veitch
Joe Wadley
Matthew Hamilton
Luca Giulianotti
Murray Hunter (S)
James Steele
Mark Robb (S)
Alex Clark
Arran Walker (S)
Bench:
Harry Macauley (S)
Harley Stewart (S)
Hachichele Kazhikamalia
Fraser Smith
Andreas Jones (S)
Fyvie got the match underway, but it was Postal who made the perfect start.
Just three minutes had been played when Walker was fouled, giving Postal an early free-kick opportunity. Hunter rose highest to win the resulting header, directing the ball down into the path of Robb. Robb cleverly returned possession to Hunter, who made no mistake with the finish, burying the ball beyond the Fyvie goalkeeper to put Postal 0-1 ahead.
The lead, however, lasted barely a minute.
Fyvie's left-back delivered a dangerous cross into the area, with the ball headed back across goal. The tall Fyvie striker reacted quickest, meeting it with a powerful volley. Graham produced an excellent save, but unfortunately for Postal the ball came back off the post and crossed the line to bring the hosts level at 1-1.
Postal responded positively and regained the lead in the fifth minute.
Clark was fouled, allowing Postal to put another dangerous free-kick into the Fyvie penalty area. Robb was first to the ball and saw his initial effort saved. He reacted quickly to head the rebound back towards goal, only to see the goalkeeper make another save. The ball then fell invitingly to Hunter, who showed excellent composure to finish from close range and restore Postal's advantage at 1-2.
Postal continued to threaten and came close to extending their lead in the 12th minute. A corner was played short to Steele, who delivered an inviting cross into the box. Wadley rose to meet it but could only watch as his header crashed against the crossbar.
Five minutes later, Postal did get their third.
Steele delivered another dangerous corner, following some excellent build-up work from Hunter, and Robb rose superbly to head the ball home and make it 1-3 to Postal.
Fyvie were struggling to contain Postal's attacking threat, although the hosts continued to look dangerous when they managed to break forward.
Wadley was shown a yellow card in the 19th minute before Postal produced another excellent spell of attacking football two minutes later.
Clark did brilliantly to win possession from the Fyvie centre-half before driving towards goal. His left-footed effort was saved, but the rebound fell to Robb, whose shot was also kept out. Hunter then followed up with another effort, only for the Fyvie goalkeeper to again deny Postal.
The visitors continued to create opportunities as the half progressed. In the 39th minute Steele whipped another excellent cross into the box, with Wadley rising to meet it, but his header went over the crossbar.
Fyvie were handed a lifeline three minutes before the interval.
A corner was delivered into the Postal box and Graham came bravely from his goal to punch clear. However, the ball dropped into a crowded area and, following a frantic stramash, Fyvie managed to force it over the line to reduce the deficit to 2-3.
Postal responded immediately.
Steele's corner in the 43rd minute found Veitch, but his header went narrowly wide. Then, right on the stroke of half-time, Clark played an excellent through ball into Robb. Robb appeared to have time to get his shot away but was eventually caught by a Fyvie defender, who made the tackle.
Postal were awarded a corner and made it count. The delivery found Wadley, who finished the move to put Postal back two goals ahead at 2-4.
Half-time: Fyvie 2-4 Postal ALC
Postal knew they would have to remain disciplined in the second half with Fyvie certain to come out looking for a way back into the contest.
The hosts threatened early after the restart, with a shot from the edge of the box in the 46th minute drifting wide.
Fyvie continued to push as the second half progressed and came close again in the 60th minute. Their number 19 reached the byline and delivered a dangerous cross before following up with a shot, but Graham was equal to it and produced another important save to protect Postal's two-goal advantage.
Postal were forced to defend for periods but continued to battle hard to maintain their lead.
The match took another dramatic turn in the 85th minute when Wadley was shown a red card, leaving Postal to see out the closing stages with ten men.
Fyvie immediately increased the pressure and, deep into the final stages, a free-kick was delivered into the Postal box. Giulianotti did well to clear the initial danger, but the ball fell to a Fyvie player outside the area.
The resulting long-range effort took a huge deflection off Clark and flew into the net, leaving Graham with no chance and reducing the score to 3-4.
The final minutes were tense as Fyvie pushed forward in search of an equaliser, but Postal defended resolutely to protect their lead.
When the final whistle eventually arrived, Postal ALC had secured a valuable and entertaining 3-4 victory.
It was a performance full of character from Postal, who showed their attacking quality with four well-worked goals but also had to demonstrate plenty of resilience after Fyvie fought back twice. Hunters two goals, robbs headed finish and Wadleys crucial goal from the corner ultimately proved decisive, while Grahams saves throughout the game played a major part in ensuring Postal left Fyvie with all three points.
Full-time: Fyvie 3-4 Postal ALC
A seven-goal thriller, plenty of drama and, most importantly, another hard-earned victory for Postal ALC.
MoM – Harry Macauley
Goals – Murray Hunter x 2, Mark Robb, Joe Wadley
Booked – Joe Wadley x 2, Andreas Jones
Red Card – Joe Wadley
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