Kemnay Youth 5 - Postal ALC 3 (AET) - Dickie Trophy 1/4 Final - Bogbeth Park -4th Feb 2023

TEAM - 1. D.Cruickshank 2. R.Webster 3. N.Wiley 4. L.Giulianotti 5. B.Patterson 6. E.Martin 7. A.Clark 8. J.Steele 9. L.Melia 10. B.Webster 11. P.Frampton 12. M.Maciver. 14. S.Cotovici 15. D.Aitken 16. K.Dowbekin.

OPPOSITION MOTM – N/A

Postal got off to a decent start against the league leaders and had the majority of the play in the opening 15 minutes without creating any clear cut opportunities.

The first half chance of the game fell to Steele when his long shot from 20 yards out went over the bar.

On 17 minutes, the home side took the lead against the run of play. A simple through ball over the top of the Postal defence, down the right channel, saw keeper Cruickshank come off his line to attempt the clearance but the striker got there first and slotted home. 1-0.

On 23 minutes captain Patterson had to come off with a twisted ankle which forced a reshuffle with Steele moving into defence and Maciver replacing him in midfield.

On 29 minutes Postal were slow to shut down a Kemnay player who then shot a worldy from about 25 yards out past the Postal keeper. Great strike and not much the keeper could do. 2-0.

Four minutes later, Postal pulled themselves back into it when a Melia knock down fell nicely to Maciver who kept his composure to strike it high into the net for his first goal of the season. 2-1.

Three minutes later and Postal were back on level terms. Ross Webster did well to run into the box with the ball and was hauled down. Cert pen. Frampton scored the pen, although the keeper got a touch on it. 2-2.

On 38 minutes Postal missed a sitter. Bruce Webster was sent through on the keeper one-on-one, even though he looked suspiciously offside. With only the keeper to beat he sent his shot past the post.

Postal had another great chance to take the lead on 41 minutes and it was Bruce Webster again who the culprit when he, again put his shot past the post from 6 yards out.

A minute later, good work by Frampton down the left saw him cut it back to Melia. His snapshot should have been in the back of the net but it lacked any power and the keeper easily saved.

Three brilliant chances missed, in quick succession, which would come back to haunt Postal unfortunately.

HALF TIME – KEMNAY 2 - POSTAL ALC – 2

A bad start to the second half saw Postal concede a pen in the opening minute when Steele pulled a Kemnay Player’s strip in the box right in front of the ref. Definite pen. Luckily for Steele Cruickshank got him out of jail by saving the pen.

On 15 minutes, Bruce Webster had another great chance to put Postal ahead when he was played in on the keeper. He tried to lift it over the keeper’s head but sent it agonisingly over the bar.

On 28 minutes Postal took the lead. A corner from Maciver was cut back into the path of Clark. His cross into the box was met on the knock down by Frampton who fired home from close range. 2-3.

The match must have been good for a neutral to watch and the game swung in favour of the home side on 36 minutes in controversial fashion. With Postal defending a corner kick there was the usual jostling in the box. The young ref blue the whistle and declared a penalty, with Postal complaining that the ball wasn’t even in play yet. This time Kemnay made no mistake and scored down the middle of the goal. 3-3.

There was still time for not one but two sitters for Postal. Bruce Webster again sent through one-on-one with the keeper. This time he hit the post and when it rebounded out, Cotovici somehow managed to send his shot by the post. When it’s not your day, it’s not your day.

FULL TIME – KEMNAY 3 - POSTAL ALC – 3

Extra time started and it was Frampton’s turn to miss a one-on-one. As he raced through on the keeper, 6 minutes into the first period his shot was blasted off the keeper’s chest and away to safety.

5 minutes later and Kemnay took the lead again. Another straight punt down the Postal centre in behind the defenders. The keeper came out but the Kemnay forward made no mistake in slotting home. 4-3.

Postal changed to 3 at the back for the second period of extra time but it didn’t make much difference as the home side ended the game the stronger side.

They scored their 5th 8 minutes into the second period to kill the tie. 5-3.

Overall, a good, exciting game for the neutral, but frustrating for the Postal management team. Not scoring any out of six one-on-ones with the keeper and shipping 5 goals is not a winning combination.

Hopefully lessons will be learned for a tough away tie to Div 1 League leaders Kaimhill this Saturday.