Glendale 3 - Postal ALC 1 - Div 2 - Crombie Park Saturday 28th March 2026

Postal ALC travelled out to Maryculter for this league match against Glendale, who would be playing in the White Cup Final the following Friday evening.  Glendale took the spoils the last time the two sides met last season, Postal would be hoping to turn that result around.

The team lined up as below:

1. Grant Cormack

2. Adam Veitch

3. Andrew Riddell

4. Euan Brechin

5. James Steele

6.      Luca Giulianotti

7. Alex Clark

8. Scott Stuart

9. Sultan Ahmed

10. Harry McAuley (S)

11. Doug Russell (S)

Bench: 

12. Andreas Jones

13. Vinnie Buggie

14. Duncan MacKenzie

15. Fraser Smith

16. Steven Abel (S)

17. Mark Robb (S)

Postal ALC started brightly and were immediately on the front foot, kicking off with intent. Inside the opening three minutes, they forced an early corner, but the delivery couldn’t be converted into a meaningful chance. Glendale responded in kind on six minutes with a corner of their own, though it too came to nothing as both sides sized each other up.

The first real moment of quality came in the 12th minute. A well-delivered free kick into the box caused problems, eventually dropping to Giulianotti, who struck a sweet left-footed volley that crashed against the post. It was a moment that deserved a goal and set the tone for Postal’s attacking threat.

Midway through the half, Postal carved out another excellent opportunity. On 25 minutes, Ahmed flicked the ball on cleverly into the path of Stuart, who found himself clean through on goal. Attempting to dink the advancing keeper, Stuart was denied, and although the rebound fell kindly to McAuley, his follow-up effort drifted wide of the target. It was a big chance that went begging.

Postal continued to press, with Stuart trying his luck from distance on 30 minutes, but his effort sailed high. Shortly after, in the 37th minute, Ahmed was played through on goal but hesitated at the crucial moment, allowing the recovering defender to get back and snuff out the danger.

That hesitation proved costly almost immediately. In the 38th minute, Glendale capitalised on a long ball forward that was flicked on into the path of their number 8, who made no mistake in finishing clinically to give Glendale a 1–0 lead against the run of play.

Approaching half-time, the game sprang into life. Ahmed delivered a dangerous cross from the right, but Postal couldn’t quite find the finishing touch. Moments later, Stuart was dispossessed inside the box, and Glendale nearly doubled their lead, only for Cormack to produce a crucial save. However, from the resulting corner, despite Steele initially winning the ball, it fell to Glendale’s number 3, who was left unmarked and fired home off the post to make it 2–0.

To their credit, Postal responded immediately. In the final action of the half, McAuley slipped a perfectly timed pass through to Ahmed, who was brought down by Glendale’s number 4. The referee pointed to the spot without hesitation. Ahmed stepped up confidently and converted the penalty, reducing the deficit to 2–1 and giving Postal renewed belief going into the break.

The second half began with Postal pushing for an equaliser. Within minutes, Ahmeds header set Stuart through again, but the keeper was equal to his effort, making another important save. Glendale threatened briefly themselves, blasting an effort over the bar from a throw-in on 49 minutes.

Postal continued to probe, and on 57 minutes, a move down the right saw the ball worked into Ahmed, who turned sharply but saw his shot blocked. Giulianotti then tried his luck from distance on the hour mark, but his effort drifted wide.

Defensively, Postal had to remain alert. On 62 minutes, a Glendale cross from the right found their number 11 unmarked, but Grant once again came to the rescue with a vital save to keep Postal in the contest.

Postal’s attacking intent remained clear. McAuley drove at his full-back on the left in the 64th minute and appeared to be brought down, earning a free kick in a promising position. Riddell stepped up a minute later and delivered a superb effort that looked destined for the top corner, only to be denied by an excellent save from the Glendale keeper.

Further pressure followed, with Robb firing over from a Steele free kick on 70 minutes, but despite their dominance in spells, Postal couldn’t find the crucial equaliser.

The game’s decisive moment came late. In the 89th minute, Scotty Stuart was clearly tripped, followed moments later by another foul on Steele, but the referee waved play on. As Postal players appealed, Glendale broke forward and punished the lapse, scoring to make it 3–1 and effectively end the contest.

A frustrating afternoon for Postal ALC, who created several strong chances and hit the woodwork but were ultimately punished for missed opportunities and key moments of hesitation in dealing with Glendale’s long ball style of play.

FT 3 – 1

MoM – Sultan Ahmed

Goals – Sultan Ahmed

Booked – N/A