Postal ALC 1 - Beacon Rangers 3 - Association Trophy - Webster Park Sat 2nd March 2025

Postal welcomed Beacon Rangers to Webster Park in the Association cup.  In the same league the previous season, games against Beacon Rangers would see Postal fail to win home and away.  Postal had been in form coming into the game, playing good football and had no issue finding the net recently so were confident they could push Beacon hard in this encounter. 

With Ross Murray cup tied, Doug Russell, Duncan Paterson, Scott Stuart and Bruce Webster unavailable Postal welcomed back Jackson Bennett, Euan Brechin, Martin Maciver, David Finch and Andrew Baxter to the squad.

Two changes to the first team with Alli MacRae coming into centre half and Sultan Ahmed replacing Doug Russell on the right wing.

Team Selection:

Grant Cormack

Ali MacRae

James Steele

Adam Veitch

Peter Frampton

Kieron Dowbekin

Sultan Ahmed

Phillip Wallace

Alex Clarke

Steven Abel

Duncan MacKenzie

Bench:

Sergiu Cotovici

Jackson Bennett

Andrew Baxter

David Finch

Martin Maciver

Harry McAuley

Euan Brechin

Postal kicked off the match and started well.

In the opening minute Sultan Ahmed raced down the Postal right following great hold up play by Duncan MacKenzie up top.  Sultan appeared to have been upended in the box however the referee waved play to continue to the bemusement of the Postal sideline.

In the second minute Captain Steele fouled the Beacon Rangers forward, the resultant free kick would see a Beacon Rangers player get a free header that sailed over the bar. A sign of things to come for Postal in the set up at defending set pieces.

On the 3rd minute Beacon Rangers had a shot from outside the box well saved by Cormack in the Postal goal.

The game at this point was fairly even with Postal perhaps edging the play resulting in some continuous fouling from Beacon Rangers on Peter Frampton in particular.

On the 4th minute Phil Wallace was fouled outside the box, his resultant shot clearing the cross bar. 

On the 5th minute a foul on Frampton seen Steele clip the ball into the box finding Phil Wallace unmarked.  Unfortunately for the energetic midfielder his header was too straight and went into the arms of the Beacon Rangers keeper.

On the 10th minute good play from Alex Clark down the Postal left seen him fouled.  Free kick was played into the box and Abel met the ball with the outside of his right foot.  Sailing to the top corner the ball didn’t have enough power in the shot and the keeper plucked it out the air. 

Great play for Postal on the 15th minute, Sultan Ahmed trapped a long kick out, played the ball into Duncan MacKenzie who flicked the ball onto Alex Clark who crossed into the box to Abel who seen his shot blocked.  Postal appealed for a hand ball however play was instructed to continue. 

20 minute mark would see Beacon start to dictate the play, winning the majority of the first and second balls they would advance up the field of play and play neat passing moves in front of the Postal 18 yard box. 

On the 30th minute Beacon had a corner cleared from Steele, however on the 36th minute the away side would take the lead.  Postal conceded a corner which was swung into the area, Adam Veitch lost number 4 who powered his header into the roof of the net. 

0 – 1

Postal should have equalised on the 37th minute.  A strong run and great through ball by Phil Wallace set up Sultan Ahmed to race through on goal.  Rather than cut in and have a shot the winger elected to try and feed Duncan MacKenzie who couldn’t get his shot away.  A really good opportunity but poor decision making in the final third.

38th minute Postal again cleared for a corner, expecting a similar delivery, Beacon switched up the corner routine and played the ball low to the front post.  Number 2 evaded Alex Clark and stooped low to head the ball home.  Poor defending from Postal again at a set piece.

0 – 2  Half Time

Half time talk focused on being brave and trying to play football rather than go long continuously which had been the pattern of the first half.  Although Postal had opportunities in the first half Beacon had won the majority of the first and second balls after the 20 minute mark putting Postal under pressure.  Request from the management team was to take some shots and not walk the ball into the net.

Postal started the second half sluggish and on the 48th minute an untracked run found the Beacon Rangers number 7 alone in the box however blazed his shot over the bar.

On the 54th minute a great ball from Alex Clark to Sultan seen the winger dummy the ball and allow Phil Wallace to run onto the ball into the box.  One on one with the keeper the keeper saved Wallace shot on goal. 

On the 57th minute the game Postal would concede again, leaving them with an uphill challenge.  Long ball from the Beacon keeper, Alli MacRae let the ball bounce, number 10 then beat him in the air to the ball, controlled it and lobbed Cormack in the Postal goal.  Great finish but poor defending from Postal not attacking the ball and no cover at the back. 

0 – 3

60th minute seen Euan Brechin and Jackson Bennett enter the field of play, Kieron Dowbekin and Sultan Ahmed coming off. 

64th minute Duncan Mackenzie replaced by Harry McAuley

65th minute Jackson Bennett would have a right footed shot from 20 yards out saved well by the Beacon keeper.

Beacon Rangers advanced up the park on the 67th minute through number 11 who raced to the byline before cutting back the ball to an unmarked midfielder who thankfully shot over. 

69th minute Postal would pull a goal back.  Jackson Bennett received the ball at the edge of the box, took on 4 Beacon players and crossed the ball to the back post to find Abel on hand to head/shoulder in to the net to continue his fine scoring form.

1 – 3

73rd minute Alex Clark replaced with Sergiu Cotovici

75th minute a great through pass by Steele to Harry seen the tall striker play in Abel.  Racing through on goal the winger checked back, steadied himself then shot on goal, unfortunately his shot came off the base of the post and out. 

On the 79th minute a Steele corner eventually landed to the feet of a Beacon Rangers defender, robbed by Abel the winger elected to try and cut the ball back in the box rather than go alone and shoot.  A real opportunity to put some pressure on Beacon spurned.

On the 80th minute with Postal attacking Beacon broke free, 10 playing in number 11 who seen his shot cleared off the line by Brechin.

81st min Abel replaced by Martin Maciver.

88th minute Beacon had a one on one by number 14 saved by Cormack, from the resultant save number 10 was denied by Cormack, play raging on number 10 again received the ball and this time seen his strike go over the bar.

Man of the Match – N/A

Substitutes Not Used – Andrew Baxter & David Finch

Over the fullness of the 90 minutes Beacon Rangers deserved the win.  After 20 minutes, Beacon were dominant in winning the majority of the 1st and 2nd balls and some good interplay in front of the Postal defence.  Postal will see it as a missed opportunity, electing to go long rather than pass the ball.  Decision making in the final third today wasn’t what it has been of late with a total refusal to shoot at times.  If you don’t buy a ticket you wont win the lottery and essentially that’s what the Postal sideline witnessed today.