Kaimhill United 6 (six) - Postal ALC 2 - Edmond Trophy 2nd Round - Kaimhill Grass - 11/02/2023

TEAM - 1. G.Cormack 2. R.Webster 3. N.Wiley 4. S.Carter 5. J.Steele 6. E.Martin 7. A.Clark 8. M.Hunter 9. L.Melia 10. B.Webster 11. M.Maciver 12. S.Cotovici 14. B.Schrader. 15. N.MacDonald

OPPOSITION MOTM – N/A

Grant Cormack made his first competitive start of the season, in goal, with Donald Cruickshank out injured with a knee issue. With captain Patterson also injured, Steele started in centre defence.

The game was only 6 minutes old when Postal conceded the first of a defensive, set piece, horror-show today. A corner was sent into the Postal box and Kaimhill’s Bramma was allowed head into the net completely unchallenged. 1-0.

Postal re-grouped and for the next half hour were holding their own against the Div1 League leaders without creating many chances it must be said.

On 20 minutes, Cormack made a good stop for Postal, saving low to his left hand side.

Postal missed a really good chance 25 minutes into the half when Webster played in Maciver. Unfortunately for Postal, the keeper saved the shot from 8 yards out.

Two minutes later and Kaimhill doubled their lead after Postal failed to clear a long throw. The ball dropped inside the 6 yard area and was scrambled into the net. 2-0.

Postal were still making chances, getting in behind, at this stage and the home side’s defence were anything but convincing.

Hunter was sent through one on one on 33 minutes but with only the keeper to beat he dilly-dallied getting his shot away and was tackled.

With the half almost at an end, and Postal looking to re-group, they conceded the killer 3rd. Postal were actually on the attack with a chance to deliver a free kick into the box, but when the free kick was messed up, the resulting pass back was also short which allowed Kaimhill to bare down on goal. Cormack couldn’t hold the shot and it was knocked into the net unchallenged. 3-0.

HALF TIME – KAIMHILL 3 - POSTAL ALC – 0

Postal discussed being better at set pieces at half time but it only took 2 minutes for them to concede another. Another corner and, again, Kaimhill’s Bramma was allowed the freedom of the park to head home unchallenged. A goal you would be upset if a juvenile team had conceded. Real schoolboy defending. 4-0.

Postal huffed and puffed for the next 20 minutes but would concede a 5th on 23 minutes. Postal defender messed up his header, sending it looping towards Cormack's goal. He could only palm it down into the path of the Kaimhill striker who knocked into the net. 5-0.

Postal pulled a consolation goal back on 27 minutes when Wiley managed to cut the ball across the face of the goal to the waiting Cotovici at the back post to knock home. 5-1.

Postal had already gift wrapped 2 goals for Kaimhill veteran Bramma, so why not give him his hat trick? That’s exactly what they did on 33 minutes when he was, again allowed to head home unchallenged from a Set piece. 6-1. Tragic defending and a lack of leadership to allow the same person to score 3 similar goals without learning lessons on the pitch.

Postal scored a decent goal on 38 minutes with the energetic Schrader scoring his first Postal goal, after getting himself into the box from the midfield and firing high into the net. 6-2.

Postal thought they had made the game a wee bit more respectable on 41 minutes of the second half when they thought the ball has crossed the line after a shot against the bar, but the ref waved play on.

No more goals and the Postal sideline were thankfully put out of their misery.

Overall, by far Postal’s worse performance of the season so far. To concede 4 goals from long throws or corners is really poor defending and much like the effort and enthusiasm on show from the team, particularly in the second half of this game, showed a real laziness from all concerned.

Cup dream over for the season again with only league games remaining. The management team will be looking for a reaction against Byron this Saturday.