Postal ALC 3 - Ellon Thistle 4 - Div1 North - Ellon Meadows - 3rd April 24

TEAM - 1.  G.Cormack  2.  S.Carter  3.  A.Baxter  4.  T.Raynard  5.  B.Patterson  6.  E.Brechin  7.  A.Clark  8.  J.Steele  9.  D.Mackenzie  10.  S.Abel  11.  N.MacDonald  12.  S.Cotovici 14.  S.Stuart 15.  A.Macrae  16.  R.Webster

OPPOSITION MOTM – S.Abel

Webster Park is still under water so Postal gave up home advantage to get the game played out at Ellon Meadows for the first mid-week game of 2024.  The pitch was as good as you’ll get at this time of year so no complaints.

Ellon got off to a dream start, only 1 minute into the match.  The number 10 dropped off the Postal defence, picked the ball up and was allowed to get his shot off unchallenged.  From about 30 yards out he smashed the ball into the postage stamp over the head of Cormack.  0-1.

The home side were well on top in the opening period of the game with the number ten causing the “lumbering” Postal defence all sorts of problems.

On 8 minutes Raynard played a short header back to the Postal keeper.  The Ellon forward ran onto the ball first and Raynard was lucky not to give away a pen when he appeared to pull the forwards jersey.

On 23 minutes, Ellon scored a second.  A long kick up the park, Raynard allowed it to bounce, the forward ran in behind, Cormack ran off his line and the forward (facing his own goal) looped the ball over the keeper from just inside the box.  Really poor defending.  0-2.

Postal pulled one back on 37 minutes.  MacDonald did well down the Postal left and got his shot away which was only partially cleared.  Abel was on hand to compose himself and slam the ball home from inside the 6 yard box.  1-2.

5 minutes later and Postal were level.  A tremendous in-swinging corner from MacDonald on the Postal left was fumbled by the keeper and Abel was on hand to force the ball over the line.  2-2.

HALF TIME – Postal ALC 2 – Ellon Thistle 2

The second half started exactly the same as the first with Postal gift-wrapping a goal to the opposition number 10 in the first minute.  The Ellon forward collected the ball on the Postal right, dribbled by both Carter and Raynard like they were invisible and duly slammed home his shot, low into the keepers bottom left hand corner, unchallenged.  Another great goal from an Ellon point of view but school boy stuff from a defence who were well warned at half time of where the danger was likely to come from.  2-3.

15 minutes later, Postal handed the Ellon attack another present.  MacDonald gave the ball away on the edge of his own box, next thing, the ball was slammed home.  2-4.

Postal pulled one back 21 minutes into the half when a great ball through the Ellon defence saw Abel run through on goal.  He got his shot away but it was cleared off the line only for Duncan Mackenzie to nod home to give Postal some hope 3-4.

The game was now fairly open with Postal going 3 at the back and sending on Cotovici up top to try and get a goal back.

MacDonald had a shot on 27 minutes, from distance, that he skied over the bar.

Both Abel and Cotovici just missed a decent ball at the back post on 35 minutes with the ball just out of their reach.

2 minutes later an Ellon forward missed an open goal, from 6 yards out hitting the ball over the bar.

On 44 minutes a set piece into the Ellon box saw Mackenzie hit a shot from about 2 yards out but it was cleared.

With the last kick of the ball the Ellon keeper produced a great point blank save from a Raynard header to push the ball over the bar and win his team all 3 points.

Full Time – POSTAL ALC 3 – Ellon Thistle 4

Overall, an exciting game to watch if you were a neutral but ultimately a defensive horror show from Postal tonight sold the jerseys.