Postal ALC 2 - Westend 1 - Div 2 North - Webster Park - 13/05/2023

TEAM - 1. D.Cruickshank 2. S.Carter 3. A.Riddell 4. B.Patterson 5. K.Dowbekin 6. M.Hunter 7. N.Wiley 8. A.Clark 9. L.Melia 10. B.Webster 11. S.Cotovici 12. G.Cormack 14. Luca Giulianotti 15. I.Bruce. 16. C.Patterson

OPPOSITION MOTM – K.Dowbekin

When Postal last played Westend at home in the league in September, the weather was excellent. Today was another hot sunny day at a newly cut and lined Webster Park.

Postal had more than half the squad unavailable today so managers Patterson and Bruce joined Cormack and Giulianotti on the bench.

Postal started the half well and immediately put the away side under pressure, winning a corner in the first 30 seconds of the match, which came to nothing.

On 7 minutes a low cross from Patterson, on the right of the box, found Cotovici. His shot was saved from 6 yards out.

Cotovici found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper on 16 minutes but, again, the keeper saved.

The keeper was having a great first half for the away side and stopped Postal going ahead, again, on 18 minutes when Melia received the ball in the box from a Wiley ball, chipped it up and got his shot away only for the keeper to save from point blank range.

Postal thought they had made the breakthrough on 24 minutes when Melia had the ball in the back of the net after a nice through ball from Webster. The ref deemed it offside (not for the first or last time in the match) and the goal was chopped off.

Ten minutes later and Postal took the lead. A corner from the Postal left was sclaffed into the back of the net by one of the Westend defenders for an O.G. 1-0.

HALF TIME – POSTAL ALC – 1 – Westend 0

Postal had a great start to the half when they doubled their lead 3 minutes in. A good diagonal floated ball from Dowbekin on the Postal right saw Melia be brave with the keeper coming out to challenge him. Melia got the header away and this time the keeper could only palm the ball into the forward's path and he shot the ball into the back of the net. 2-0.

On 8 minutes Melia nodded the ball into the path of Webster but the keeper made another save to deny the forward.

After the 2nd goal, it’s fair to say Postal dropped a level. Always dangerous in the amateur leagues and were duly punished for it 15 minutes into the second period.

Postal gave the ball away needlessly on the left, the Westend player dribbled past/through at least a couple of Postal defenders far too easily and shot home from about 15 yards out. Good finish but Postal should be doing better in that situation.

Bruce was soon sent from the side-lines after complaining to the ref from the side of the park.

On 23 minutes, Clark was sent through one on one with the keeper but took his shot from too far out and it lacked any power or accuracy to trouble a goaley having the game of his life.

On 27 minutes Postal had a free kick just outside the box on the Postal right. With everyone expecting a cross into the box, Riddell intelligently noticed a gap between the keeper and post and had a pop which he did well to get on target with power. Unfortunately the keeper saved and palmed it round the post.

Postal had other chances to score in the second half with Wiley and Melia both missing sitters, also.

Overall, we were dominant against Westend today and on another day it could have been 5 or 6 – 1. The goal we lost made the game more (much more) nervous than it should have been, but if fingers are getting pointed, the responsibility needs to fall, today, on the players who missed the chances to put the game to bed. Some really poor missed chances in amongst the good saves by an inspired keeper. Credit to Westend too who kept battling.

This result gives Postal the assurance of 3rd place and guaranteed promotion to the 1st Division. While we would all rather have silver wear, to get promotion out of this league, after another full squad re-build in the summer, is an achievement to be commended. Hopefully we can finish our league campaign off in style with a win against champions-elect, Kemnay Youth. Well done to everyone involved.