Postal ALC 1 - Auchnagatt Barons 1 (Barons won on pens 5-6) - Dickie Trophy - Webster Park 15/1/22

TEAM - 1. R.Laing 2. A.Riddell 3. S.Carter 4. B.Nicolson 5. B.Patterson 6. M.Hunter 7. S.Robertson 8. R.Law 9. P.Frampton 10. S.Ure 11. R.Insch 12. G.Davidson 14. M.Maciver 15. B.Campbell 16. S.Cotovici 17. K.Dowbekin

OPPOSITION MOTM – N/A

Postal were first-footed by Div 2 East League Leaders Auchnagatt Barons when they arrived at Webster Park for this Dickie Trophy 1st round tie.

Postal were well beaten by the Barons in their last encounter so would have been keen to perform better at home.

Postal started new signing Nicolson in centre defence alongside Patterson with Riddell slotting back into right back and Carter moving across to the left of defence.

Postal got off to a disastrous start in the first minute. A simple enough ball into the box saw panic set in and a sclaffed clearance sent the ball out for a throw in near the Postal 18 yard box. Carter cleared the resultant throw but only out for a corner. When the ball came into the box from the corner, Auchnagatt won the first header at the front post and won the second ball at the back post unchallenged to score the first goal of the game.

Criminal defending of the set-piece after discussing all week. 0-1.

Thankfully Postal didn’t let the goal affect them too much and dominated the remainder of the first half.

They were rewarded with an equaliser only 2 minutes later when a great run down the Postal right from Frampton saw him cross into the 6 yard box where midfielder Robertson was on hand to slide in and poke the ball home. Good goal. 1-1.

Postal were dominating the possession, and the attacking, from this point onwards without creating many open chances it must be said.

On 20 minutes, Insch cut inside and fired a shot towards the Barons goal from 20 yards out but the keeper saved.

Carter was playing really well at this point and was bombing on down the left and inside. On 24 minutes, he had a shot from 25 yards but it sailed over the bar.

Frampton was getting kicked all over the park during the first half without the referee booking anyone and he took a sore one just before half time.

No real chances of any note from either team as the game started to descend into a midfield battle.

HALF TIME – POSTAL ALC 1 – AUCHNAGATT BARONS 1

Not a single chance was noted in the second half apart from a cross-come-shot from the Barons which hit the post and away to safety after the striker missed the rebound.

It was still an entertaining game though with both sides battling away and defending well.

Towards the end of the game (last ten minutes) the Barons started to come forward more and probably ended the game on top but it would have been a travesty if Postal had lost this game over 90 minutes after the domination of the first 45.

The game ended 1-1 though, and with the new Covid cup rules where no extra time is played, the game went straight to pens.

Postal (Riddell, Robertson, Ure, Insch and Patterson) and Auchnagatt all scored their first 5 pens but unfortunately (for Postal) Dowbekin’s pen was saved by the Auchnagatt keeper to put the Barons into the second round.

Overall a disappointing end to the cup tie but an encouraging performance today. We didn’t create as many chances as we would like and never troubled the goalkeeper very often, but commitment couldn’t be questioned today. Certainly night and day compared to the last time we met the Barons.

Auchnagatt’s take on things can be read below:

Barons progress into the next round of the Dickie Trophy after winning a penalty shootout away to Postal.

Barons started the game with a good intensity as they pushed up the field and pressed the back line.

The deadlock was broken 5 minutes in when a good delivery from an Imray corner was deflected into the path of Hamilton who smashed it in! 0-1

Postal levelled shortly after when an unchallenged cross came into the box and the number 8 clipped the ball off the far post and into the net. 1-1

Both sides pushed forward and the game opened up.

It was end to end for most of the first half but not many clear cut chances were created for either side.

HT: 1-1

The second half saw some early changes from both sides and the game became a real battle in the centre of the park.

Barons kept pushing forward and looked the more likely side to score again for a good chunk of the second half.

The closest effort came when O’Donnell hit a volley against the post and the rebound fell to Sangster who hit it wide.

The home side didn’t trouble the Barons back line too much in the second half, mainly due to the solid defending from the lads.

The game ended a draw and it was straight to penalties to decide this one.

FT: 1-1

All 6 penalties were successfully converted from the Barons and it was our keeper Hall who saved Postal’s 6th to put us into the next round!