Postal ALC 1 - Banchory Amateurs 7 - Aberdeen FC Trophy - Webster Park Sat 14th March 2026

Postal welcomed Banchory Amateurs to Webster Park for yet another cup tie for the home side.  The two sides had squared off a couple of seasons ago in the first division with each team winning one game apiece before Banchory gained promotion to the Premier League. 

Banchory have been in a fine run of form of late scoring a barrel load of goals will keeping the back door firmly closed so Postal knew they would have to be at the top of their game to progress past the third round.

Postal lined up as below making two changes to last weeks line up with Sultan Ahmed coming back into the team and Craig Mackie replacing the injured Dowbekin.

1. Shaun Walker

2. Bruce Webster

3. Andrew Riddell (S)

4. Euan Brechin (S)

5. James Steele

6. Craig Mackie

7. Steven Abel

8. Alex Clark

9. Harry McAuley (S)

10. Phil Wallace (S)

11. Sultan Ahmed (S)

Bench: 

12. Andreas Jones (S)

13. Vinnie Buggie (S)

14. Doug Russell (S)

15. Adam Veitch

16. Scott Stuart (S)

17. Luca Giulianotti

18. Mark Robb (S)

Postal ALC kicked off the match looking to start brightly and immediately tried to play their way out from the back.

2’ – Postal attempted to build from defence through Steele, but the ball was intercepted and quickly worked out wide. The cross found Banchory’s number 7, whose shot looked destined for the net before Brechin produced a superb goal-line clearance to keep things level.

4’ – McAuley was brought down in midfield, giving Postal a free kick in a promising position. Riddell stepped up but his effort drifted over the bar.

10’ – Goal (0–1) – Banchory took the lead from a corner. The delivery was perfect at head height, preventing Brechin from attacking it, and Banchory’s number 9 rose to guide a header into the net.

11’ – Postal tried to respond immediately from a free kick, but Banchory broke quickly. Number 7 twisted past defenders and fired a shot that appeared to squirm under Shaun, but the referee waved play on, much to Postal’s relief.  100% a goal and lucky for Postal that the referee did not witness the ball crossing the line.

15’ – A long ball sent McAuley racing through on goal. Just as he looked set to shoot, the recovering centre-half made an excellent last-ditch tackle.

22’ – A throw-in found McAuley, who spun his marker and fired a shot that was blocked. Mackie followed up but his effort flew over the bar.

24’ – Postal were caught playing out from the back again. The loose ball fell to Banchory’s right winger, but he dragged his shot wide.

30’ – Banchory threatened from a free kick, but Walker was equal to it and made a comfortable save.

40’ – Another moment of danger as Postal were caught on the ball from a goal kick. Number 7 shot from distance but his effort went over.

45’ – Goal (1–1) – Postal found a crucial equaliser just before half-time. McAuley received the ball and slipped a clever reverse pass into Abel. One-on-one with the keeper, Abel calmly finished with the outside of his foot to level the score.

Half-time: Postal ALC 1–1 Banchory

Before the encounter Postal had identified Banchory would play the ball out wide and flood the box.  This didn’t come to fruition as Banchory were very direct in launching the ball forward and thriving on first and second balls. The Postal management team wanted the team to win more first balls and break up the pitch as fast as possible.

Postal started the second half positively.

47’ – Wallace threaded a brilliant pass through to Abel, who tried to delicately chip the goalkeeper, but the keeper stayed big and made the save with Abel unable to bundle home the ball as the keeper let it slip.

50’ – Goal (1–2) – Steele was dispossessed in defence and Banchory forced a corner. The delivery looped over Walker and Webster’s man bundled the ball into the net.  Slack defending.

52’ – Goal (1–3) – Banchory struck again from another corner just two minutes later, with number 8 rising above Clark to head home.

62’ – Another dangerous Banchory corner saw number 16 left unmarked, but his free header crashed off the bar.

63’ – Goal (1–4) – Moments later, number 18 beat Steele to the next corner and powered a header into the net.

75’ – Goal (1–5) – From a Banchory throw-in on the left side, the left-back drove a shot that rattled the crossbar. Number 9 reacted quickest to tap home the rebound with no Postal player anywhere near the forward.

80’ – Goal (1–6) – Banchory continued to press. A long-range effort caused problems and number 9 again reacted first to bundle the ball into the net.

81’ – Goal (1–7) – Almost immediately after the restart, a long ball released number 16, who ran through and slid the ball under Shaun as Postal downed tools.

86’ – Another long-range effort struck the bar. Number 11 followed up with a header but put it over, with no Postal defenders close by.

90’ – Banchory hit the woodwork once more late on as the Postal management looked concerned they would need to get the paint brushes out give the thrashing the goal frame had taken as Banchory were allowed to rain in attempts unchallenged.

Full Time: Postal ALC 1–7 Banchory

MoM – N/A

Goals – Steven Abel

Booked – N/A

Postal were handed a brutal lesson at Webster Park.  Banchory won the majority of the first and second balls throughout the game however up to the 50 minute mark Postal were right in the tie so the final scoreline was extremely disappointing.  Banchory in reality didn’t really have to work for their goals as Postal demonstrated some brutal defending and essentially downed tools.  Injury to keeper Walker didn’t aid the cause.