Monymusk 5 - Postal ALC 5

Postal travelled to Monymusk for the first game of the 2019/20 season on a roasting hot early Aug afternoon.

The first half went like a dream with Postal dominating proceedings from the start to the finish even though the long grass wasn’t allowing the ball to be passed as Postal would have liked.

On ten minutes Postal had their first chance when a Clark header from a corner was cleared off the line.

Ten minutes later and Postal were in front. The Monymusk defence seemed to dither on the ball in their own box which Malseed for Postal took advantage of to win the ball. The ball then fell to McAnespie of Postal who eventually forced the ball over the line at the second attempt. 0-1.

On 25 minutes more good work from Postal down the left from Beattie saw Ure lay the ball into the path of Malseed but his shot sailed just over the bar.

Postal doubled their lead on 35 minutes when a Malseed layoff to Webb just outside the box saw him sidefoot it into the net past the diving keeper. Great finish. 0-2.

Clark again saw his diving header cleared off the line on 40 minutes and Postal had to go in at half time only 2 up.

HALF TIME – MONYMUSK 0 – POSTAL ALC 2.

If the first half went like a dream, the second half was a nightmare as Postal proceeded to hand the game back to the home side.

It was Postal who threatened first though when McAnespie was sent through on goal. The keeper came out to body check him but the striker managed to get his shot away but saw it go past the open goal from 20 yards out. Surprising that the ref never pulled the play back for a foul.

7 minutes into game and Monymusk were awarded a pen when Clark body checked the Musk player just inside the box. Silly pen to give away under little pressure, which was duly dispatched. 1-2.

This seemed to knock Postal out their stride and Monymusk equalised 3 minutes later. The move started from Postal losing the ball too easily in the centre of the park. This resulted in a corner which wasn’t cleared correctly and the home side eventually knocked the ball home. 2-2.

5 minutes later and Postal were back in the lead. Malseed pulled down in the box on the right and side of the area and he duly picked himself up to score the pen. 2-3.

Postal doubled their lead 2 minutes later on 16 minutes into the second half. A superb run forward by Mackie say him square to McAnespie who drilled home for his second of the afternoon. 2-4.

That should have been game over but credit to the home side they kept on plugging away while Postal pushed the self destruct button again.

With 20 minutes left of the game Postal allowed a Monymusk player to gallop down the left-hand side unchallenged and his shot flew into the net. 3-4.

Their equaliser came on 27 minutes when a shot from outside the box was allowed unchallenged by the Postal defence and midfield. 4-4.

Postal were all over the place at this point in the game and annoyingly looked tired and beaten. The 5th goal against was the worse of the lot as a simple ball into the Postal defence saw them dreaming and the Monymusk striker found himself all alone with nobody marking him. He struck the ball home past keeper Laing. 5-4.

Postal got lucky on 40 minutes when the ref decided to give Postal another pen, this time for hand ball. Malseed again dispatched for his second. 5-5.

Postal should have scored the winner on 44 minutes when Cook had an open goal but his shot went agonisingly wide of the post.

FULL TIME - MONYMUSK 5 – POSTAL ALC 5.

Overall this felt like a defeat. To be so much on top for so much of the game and to only take one point is hard to take. Only the first game of the season but defensive frailties will need to be sorted out. Positives are obviously some of the football was excellent today and to score 5 goals is pleasing.