GRAMMAR FP V POSTAL ALC - DIV 2 NORTH.

TEAM - 1. R.LAING. 2. S.CARTER 3. P.COUTTS. 4. S.CLARK. 5. B.PATTERSON.

6. M.MACIVER. 7. L.BEATTIE. 8. S.ROBERTSON. 9. C.COOK. 10. R.LAW.

11. G.DAVIDSON. 12. R.INSCH. 14. L.MACKIE. 15. I.BRUCE. 16. C.PATTERSON.

OPPOSITION MOTM - R. LAW

With Grammar only a point in front of Postal prior to the match both sides had the chance to cement 3rd place going into Xmas.

Postal had a number of call-offs going into the match but still had a decent starting 11 and boys on the bench to call on if needed.

From the beginning of the match Postal weren't at the races as Grammar dominated the opening half hour.

Grammar took the lead on 14 minutes when Postal were caught with too many of the defence up the park during one of their few attacks of the half. When Grammar quickly counter attacked down the Postal left, Coutts couldn't catch the midfielder before he crossed. Patterson, in the middle of the 6 yard box, got to the cross before the striker but sclaffed his clearance directly to the waiting striker who knocked home to give the home side a deserved lead. 1-0.

During this first half hour, Postal were way off the pace. Grammar were winning most of the first balls, 50/50's and physically bullying the Postal players all over the park without reply from the away side.

Postal's one chance of the half came on 25 minutes when a corner into the box found left back Coutts unmarked but his header went sailing over the bar.

This seemed to rally Postal (slightly) and for the remaining third of the half they at least matched the home side without creating much, it must be said.

HALF TIME - GRAMMAR FP's 1 - POSTAL ALC 0.

Postal took on Insch at half time.

On 6 minutes Postal gifted another goal to the home side. Patterson slid in near the half way line, missing both man (and ball). The striker skipped away from him like he wasn't there and the rest of the invisible Postal back-line, bolted down the Postal left where he sent in a nice cross which was knocked home by the Grammar number ten at the back post.

Good goal from a Grammar point of view, well delivered and excellently executed but poor poor tackling, tracking back and marking by a Postal defence having a holocaust of an afternoon. 2-0.

To be fair to Postal, they rallied themselves and dominated proceedings for the next 20 minutes.

They pulled one back on 16 minutes when a corner to the front post was volleyed home from Ryan Insch. Well worked corner and finish. 2-1.

On 26 minutes of the second half, Postal suffered a further setback when full-back Carter was sent off. Having already been given a very soft yellow card earlier in the half he was then caught kicking out off the ball and deserved to go for daftness alone. Schoolboy stuff from the defender after helping pull Postal back into the match with some strong running on the right.

At this point though, Postal were still looking dangerous on the attack and were looking like they could have nicked an equaliser if they could keep it tight at the back...................

Unfortunately they sold another goal 32 minutes into the half when they opened up again with too many people up the park. 3-1.

With still 15 minutes remaining, there could still have been time to come back if Postal had re-organised and battled on, but they lost all composure, rolled over and got what they deserved which was another 3 goals lost as they rolled over to the home side.

The 4th came only 3 minutes later, when another cross was allowed into the box far too easily, where Patterson again could only knock it directly into the path of the waiting striker who slammed home past Laing on the 6 yard line. 4-1.

The 5th came a minute later as Postal looked to have completely given up by this point with the body language a disgrace, players hiding and nowhere near the positions they should have been in. 5-1.

The home side completed the scoring 42 minutes into the half when they collected the ball on the edge of the Postal box. Postal defenders stood and watched, waited a bit, watched a bit more, waited a bit more until eventually the Grammar player decided to take a shot and fired home from around 18 yards. Good goal but incredibly bad defending again to allow the shot to be taken too easily unchallenged. 6-1.

FULL TIME - GRAMMAR FP's 6 - POSTAL ALC 1.

Overall Grammar deserved the win. They won most of the 50/50's today and very much looked far hungrier to take 3rd place.

Alarm bells will be ringing for the Postal management as the away side were bullied, harried, knocked over and kicked today all over the pitch without retort.

Boys who could, and should, have competed physically were nowhere near the battle and, to be honest, hid today. Most worrying will be the fact that it was discussed before the game, and again at half time, but still Postal couldn't rise to the challenge.

Unfortunately Postal now have a four week wait before they can try and get this out their system. It'll be a long 4 weeks.