Postal ALC 2 - Tarves 4 - Div 2 - Webster Park - Saturday 18th April 2026

Postal welcomed Tarves to Webster Park following a great win at Stoneywood on Wednesday.  The two sides had met earlier in the season with Postal taking the 3 points, 2 points off the top slot in the league a win would keep Postal in contention.  Bruce Webster and Duncan MacKenzie both on holiday were replaced with Scott Stuart and Mark Robb.

The team lined up as below:

1. Grant Cormack

2. Andrew Riddell (S)

3. Scott Stuart

4. Euan Brechin

5. Craig Mackie

6. James Steele

7. Andreas Jones (S)

8. Alex Clark

9. Mark Robb (S)

10. Sultan Ahmed

11. Harry McAuley (S)

Bench: 

12. Vinnie Buggie (S)

13. Adam Veitch (S) (Y)

14. Fraser Smith (S)

15. Doug Russell (S)

16. Shaun Walker

The match began at a frantic pace after the Tarves kick-off. Postal signalled their intent within the first minute when Jones found McAuley, whose ambitious long-range effort forced an early save from the Tarves keeper. However, the visitors reminded Postal of their threat in the 5th minute; a slip from Clark (covering from the corner) allowed the Tarves number 9 through on goal, but Cormack produced a brave block. In the resulting chaos, the Tarves number 10 was booked for a blatant dive in the area.

Postal eventually broke the deadlock in the 20th minute. A pinpoint long ball from Brechin found Jones, who was chopped down in the box. Riddell stepped up and coolly dispatched the penalty to make it 1-0.

1 – 0

Tarves searched for an immediate response, forcing Cormack into a fine save from distance in the 24th minute, with the subsequent corner seeing their number 8 flick a header narrowly wide. Postal then enjoyed a wave of pressure; Ahmed flashed a shot wide after a driving run, and McAuley missed a golden opportunity from 10 yards after a brilliant cross from Clark.

The hosts survived a scare in the 30th minute when a misplaced pass allowed Tarves to break, requiring a double-act from Grant and Stuart, the latter clearing the ball heroically off the line. On the 34th minute Ahmed turned provider, lofting a ball to Robb, who through one on one with the keeper, attempted a chip that went over the bar.  Great opportunity to double the lead for Postal.

The pressure remained relentless. In the 43rd minute, a Riddell free-kick was rolled to Steele 20 yards out. He met the ball with a stunning first-time strike that flew into the top corner, sending Postal into the break with a 2 – 0 cushion. 

HT 2 – 0

Although Postal were ahead the management team reminded them that bar the last ten minutes of the first half Tarves had been the better team, reliant on Cormack and the pace of the centre half duo getting them out of trouble.  The team were asked to stop giving the ball away to the opposition and up the intensity of the play.  The second half was a different story entirely……..

In the 49th minute, an audacious "no-look" pass from Ahmed went astray, gifting Tarves possession. After Postal failed several times to clear the resulting throw-in, the ball fell to a Tarves attacker whose shot skidded off the fists of Cormack into the net.

2 – 1

The momentum shifted visibly. While McAuley tried to restore the lead with a trademark cut-in and shot, Tarves grew in confidence. In the 60th minute, a long-range effort rattled the Postal post, and the visitors were sharpest to the rebound, slamming it home for 2-2.

2 – 2

Disaster struck in the 65th minute when Veitch and Steele collided while going for the same ball. The loose ball was seized by Tarves, and a pinpoint cross was tucked away for Tarves to take the lead 2 – 3.

Ten minutes later, the comeback was complete; a Tarves interception from a goal kick led to a wide cross that took a cruel deflection off Brechin and ended up in the back of the net 2 – 4.

Postal pushed for an equalizer in the closing stages. Steele played a defense-splitting through ball to Brechin in the 82nd minute, but his effort was saved. Veitch saw yellow for a late challenge in the 85^th minute.

In the final minutes, Clark had a stinging free-kick, only to see the Tarves keeper to produce a fingertip save over the bar. From the resulting corner in the 91st minute, Ahmed rose highest but sent his header over the woodwork, signaling the end of a disappointing afternoon for the Postal faithful.

Full credit to Tarves today on a great performance.  Despite taking a two goal lead Postal never really got going today and in truth didn’t look particularly interested.  Tarves were first to every first and second ball and dominated proceedings.  Worryingly for Postal a number of the players decided to stop trying (particularly when the rain came on) in the second half looking like they would rather be anywhere than playing football. Not a sign of a team trying to apply pressure on the league leaders.

FT 2 – 4

MoM – James Steele

Goals – Andrew Riddell, James Steele

Booked – N/A