NEWMACHAR UTD 0 - POSTAL ALC 3 - DIV 1 NORTH - Strathburn Park - Monday 7th April

Following on from the Edmond cup victory at the weekend, Postal travelled to Inverurie to take on Newmachar in the league.  The sides had met twice previously with Postal securing a narrow victory in the league and Newmachar taking the spoils in the Scottish cup match.  Newmachar are a good young side and had beaten previous league leaders Cove Thistle in recent weeks.

Captain Steele would miss the encounter with Adam Veitch replacing him in the starting 11.

Team Selection:

Grant Cormack

Steven Carter

Adam Veitch

Euan Brechin

Bruce Webster

Kieron Dowbekin

Alex Clark

Phillip Wallace

Harry McAuley

Steven Abel

Duncan MacKenzie

Bench:

David Finch

Martin Maciver

Duncan Paterson

Ross Murray

Doug Russell

Scott Stuart

Newmachar kicked off the encounter on a hot and sunny evening at the Garioch Sports Centre. 

Postal started off the brighter of the two sides, on 2 min Phil Wallace dispossessed the Newmachar centre back and played in McAuley who, throw on goal, seen his shot go narrowly wide. 

The game was being played mainly in the air during the opening encounter however on the 11th min Postal had some great combination play down the right hand side between Clark, Mackenzie, and Wallace ultimately resulting in Clark crossing however Abel couldn’t meet the ball in the box. 

On the 20th minute Harry McAuley took the ball down some 32 yards from goal, rolled his man and skipped past another Newmachar defender before unleashing a drive from all of 25 yards that sailed into the roof of the net.  Great goal from the winger. 

0 – 1

On the 23rd minute the ball was rolled into Mackenzie, the tall striker in a great vein of form at present, breezed past two defenders and passed the ball out to Abel.  Abel flashed the ball across the box however the Newmachar defender got to be ball on the line before McAuley who would have had a tap in. 

25th minute of the match Wallace had a long range free kick parried by the keeper, the ball broke to McAuley who rolled the ball back to Abel who seen his shot go over the bar.

40th minute Newmachar won a corner which was met well however the bar, luckily for Postal.

On the 42nd minute a Newmachar free kick was missed by all the Postal players and landed to number 6 at the back post however his shot went wide of the post.

At the stoke of half time Newmachar should have found themselves level.  A great corner into the box was met by number 8 however his header flashed wide. 

HT 0 – 1

The first 20 minutes of the second half would be all Newmachar, going long at every opportunity and trying to fashion a goal from long balls, long throws and corner kicks.

50th minute Newmachar won a free kick that was blocked well by the wall.

53rd minute the Newmachar right winger raced to the byline, crosses and number 10 shoots toward goal with Brechin blocking, tall striker number 9 then headed towards goal which Brechin again blocked with Veitch clearing.  Great defending by Brechin putting his body on the line. 

55th minute would see MoM Carter striding forward and hitting a low shot well saved by the keeper at his near post.

56th minute against the run of play Wallace won the ball in the middle of the park and laid it off to McAuley.  McAuley then sprayed the ball over the top of the Newmachar defence to Abel who exquisitely chipped the keeper to put Postal 2 up.  Great goal. 

0-2

62nd minute Wallace disposed in the middle of the park and number 4 unleashes a thunder bolt from 30 yards that skelps the Postal left hand post. 

63rd minute a long throw into the box finds 10 free however his shot went wide of the post.

75th min Doug Russell and Duncan Paterson replace Harry McAuley and Duncan Mackenzie. 

76th and 77th min Newmachar long throws into the box result in mad panic and a scramble for the ball.  Both times Bruce Webster was at hand to mop up any danger. 

80th min Martin Maciver replaces Wallace. 

85th min a ball over the Newmachar defence is picked up by Duncan Paterson, he raced to the byline before setting up Russell with a back heel pass.  Russell shot was well saved by the keeper. 

On the 85th minute Postal would end the game as a contest.  Doug Russell picked up the ball in his own half, raced 30 yards and played the ball into Abel who slotted past the home goalkeeper. 

0 – 3

86th minute Ross Murray replaces Abel.

FT

0 – 3

Great performance by Postal tonight away from home.  Team spirit and fight for each other was excellent.  Individually some top performances with players all hitting a high level of form.  Forward line will take all the plaudits however the entire defence were exceptional and stood up to the pressure from Newmachar letting the offensive players express themselves. 

Substitutes Not Used – David Finch & Scott Stuart

MoM – Steven Carter