MIDDLEFIELD WASPS V POSTAL ALC - AFC TROPHY 1st ROUND

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

6. S.STUART. 7. L.BEATTIE. 8. R.LAW. 9. C.MACANESPIE. 10. R.INSCH.

11. C.SHEILS. 12. S.CARTER. 14. G.DAVIDSON. 15. C.COOK. 16. L.MACKIE. 17. I.BRUCE.

Postal arrived at Balmedie for this AFC Trophy 1st round tie against Middlefield Wasps with a 5 man bench on offer.

Steer was recalled into the centre of a back 4 with Robertson dropping out of midfield due to injury. Malseed was also missing so Sheils played up front with McAnespie and Insch came into left midfield.

Postal dominated the game from the off and Middlefield offered very little in an attacking sense.

Postal’s first chance came 10 minutes into the game when Insch hit the bar from a cross into the box. At this point Postal were playing some nice football on the floor which was very pleasing on the eye and a marked improvement from the previous Halliburton game.

On 13 minutes a long throw-in was helped on by Sheils to Stuart. Stuart’s shot was sent over the bar though.

On 18 minutes Clark found himself unmarked in the box but his header was too weak to trouble the keeper who easily held the ball.

Two minutes later and Sheils was sent through on the keeper. His shot was powerful enough but too close and too nice a height for the keeper who saved.

Full back Coutts was next up to try his luck. Some excellent passing from Law and Insch was sent into the path of the on-running Coutts. With only the keeper to beat he fluffed his shot.

The opening goal for Postal eventually came, 36 minutes into the half. A low cross from Sheils was knocked into the path of Beattie by the Middlefield defence. Beattie did well to pass the ball into the back of the net (off the post). 0-1.

Another low corner to the front post was met by Insch on 38 minutes but his shot hit the post and was cleared to safety.

HALF TIME – MIDDLEFIELD WASPS 0 – POSTAL ALC 1.

Postal had an ideal start to the second half when they scored a superb goal after only 5 minutes.

Insch picked the ball up on the Postal left, about 40 yards out. He dribbled past a couple of players while running toward the edge of the box, took a one/two off of McAnespie then powered his shot high into the top right hand corner of the net. Great goal. 0-2.

Postal continued to dominate the rest of the half but never really put the Middlefield keeper under too much pressure. Likewise the wasps never caused Laing any difficulties either.

FULL TIME – MIDDLEFIELD WASPS 0 – POSTAL ALC 2.

Overall some really good football from Postal today. Could and should have scored more but getting through to the next round was the goal today which Postal achieved. Also good to get a clean sheet.

Next up Theologians at Webster Park.