POSTAL A.L.C. 4 - WESTEND U18 1
- Postal Admin
- 7 minutes ago
- 3 min read
In the final preseason game before the season commences on Saturday Postal took on West End Under 18s at Webster park. The team lined up as below:
Connor Graham
Andrew Riddell (S)
Mitchell Phillips
Joe Wadley (S)
Matthew Hamilton (S)
James Steele
Scott Stuart (S)
Alex Clark (S)
Harry MacAuley (S)
Murray Hunter (S)
Bruce Webster
Bench:
Ross Webster (S)
Robbie Simmons (S)
Adam Veitch (S)
Luca Giulianotti (S)
Kian Irvine (S)
Fletcher Stewart (S)
West End got proceedings underway, but it took Postal just two minutes to break the deadlock. A superb delivery from summer signing Wadley found Webster attacking the ball with purpose, and he powered a header beyond the goalkeeper to give Postal an early 1-0 advantage.
The home side doubled their lead in the seventh minute with a clinical counter-attacking move. Stuart threaded a perfectly weighted through ball into McAuleys path, and the striker shrugged off the centre-half before calmly finishing to make it 2-0.
Postal continued to dominate possession and created another excellent opportunity on 11 minutes. Slick interplay between Webster and Phillips carved open the West End defence, allowing Pillips to burst into the penalty area. After beating his marker, he looked set to score but unfortunately blazed his effort over the crossbar.
Two minutes later another Postal corner caused problems. Wadleys clever cut-back found Hamilton, whose shot looped high into the air. Hunter reacted quickest at the back post but could only head over the bar.
Steele tried his luck from distance in the 17th minute, striking a fierce effort that flew narrowly over the crossbar as Postal kept the pressure firmly on the visitors.
The third goal arrived just a minute later. Webster whipped in a brilliant cross from the left, and McAuley met it first time with a superb volley that left the goalkeeper with no chance, extending Postal's lead to 3-0.
Postal nearly added a fourth midway through the half when Stuart produced another excellent delivery into the box. Webster rose well but his header drifted just wide of the post.
Webster continued to be a constant threat, cutting inside in the 34th minute before driving towards goal. His powerful strike looked destined for the net until the West End goalkeeper produced an outstanding save.
The visitors threatened just before the interval when a powerful effort from the edge of the box flew narrowly over the crossbar, but Postal went into the break deservedly leading 3-0.
West End pulled a goal back seven minutes into the second half after Postal overplayed the ball at the back. Hamiltons short pass was intercepted by the West End forward, who capitalised on the mistake to reduce the deficit to 3-1.
Postal responded well and almost restored their three-goal cushion in the 55th minute. Riddell's dangerous free-kick dropped to Webster at the back post, but his effort drifted wide.
With 15 minutes remaining, Simmons delivered an inviting free-kick into the area where Veitch climbed highest, only to head over the crossbar.
McAuley was inches away from completing his hat-trick in the 77th minute. A perfectly weighted through ball sent him clear on goal after an excellent turn, but he dragged his finish just wide of the far post.
Postal finally put the game beyond doubt in the 80th minute. Stewart collected a through ball, cut sharply across the full-back and unleashed an unstoppable strike into the top corner to cap an excellent team performance and seal a deserved 4-1 victory.
A strange preseason from Postal with the majority of players injured or on holiday throughout the period has meant the team has struggled for consistency throughout. With promotion to the 1st Division the club has actively recruited and brought in a number of high calibre players marking one of the most competitive squads assembled in the clubs recent history.
MoM – N/A
Goals – Mcauley x 2, Webster, Stewart
Booked – N/A
Red Card – N/A
Comments