Postal ALC 3 - Laurencekirk Westend 2 - 20th Dec 2025 - Aberdeen FC Trophy - Webster Park

Postal welcomed Laurencekirk West End to Webster Park knowing a win would see them travel back out to Lawsondale to face Westdyke in the next round. In the last competitive game of the year Postal were keen to secure the win. 

Postal were forced into changing the team due to no less than 7 players unavailable.  Andrew Riddell came in to play centre back with captain Steele moving into central midfield.

Postal lined up as below:

1. Grant Cormack

2. Bruce Webster 

3. Vinnie Buggie (S)

4. Euan Brechin

5. Andrew Riddell

6. Keiron Dowbekin

7. Harry McAuley  (S)

8. James Steele

9. Duncan MacKenzie (S)

10. Phil Wallace 

11. Sultan Ahmed (Y) (S)

Bench: 

12. Andreas Jones (S)

13. Fraser Smith (S)

14. Scott Stuart (S)

15. Robbie Simmons

16. Shaun Walker

17. Steven Abel (S)

Laurencekirk got the game underway, and they wasted no time testing Postal's resolve, firing an early shot off target in the opening minute.  However, it was Postal who struck first in spectacular fashion. In the 6th minute, Duncan MacKenzie laid the ball off perfectly to Wallace, who took it down with composure before embarking on a mazy run that saw him beat four defenders en route to slamming the ball home. A moment of individual brilliance from the midfielder gave Postal a deserved 1-0 lead.

The home side continued to press and create chances. In the 13th minute, Sully turned two men inside out with a dazzling piece of skill, only for his shot to drift agonisingly wide.

Postal's pressure continued with set-pieces: Riddell's 19th-minute free-kick drew an excellent save from the Laurencekirk keeper, leading to a corner. Then, in quick succession at 26 and 30 minutes, Steeler delivered two great corners – the first missed by everyone in the box, the second somehow not converted by Harry despite the opportunity.

Laurencekirk gradually grew into the game, and they levelled in the 35th minute. From their corner, the ball was cleared to the home side's number 5, who swung it back into the danger area. Postal failed to fully clear, and the ball fell back to the number 4, who slotted home clinically to make it 1-1.

Just before the break, Postal thought they had regained the lead when MacKenzie found the net in the 37th minute, but the goal was chalked off for offside.

Half-time: Laurencekirk 1-1 Postal ALC

The second period began with Postal pushing forward. In the 47th minute, Wallace whipped in a dangerous cross, Harry cut it back to Dobbs, but the Postal number 6 unfortunately kicked fresh air.

Laurencekirk capitalised shortly after. In the 50th minute, Webster found himself on the byline but couldn't pick out a teammate in the box. The ball broke, Vinnie cleared for a corner under pressure. From the resulting set-piece, Bruce Webster was outjumped at the back post, Grant made the initial save, but the same Laurencekirk player powered home the rebound to put the hosts 2-1 ahead.

Postal responded with efforts from MacKenzie (55th minute, straight at the keeper), Wallace (65th, straight at the keeper), and Harry (67th, same outcome).

In the 70th minute, Wallace produced another moment of magic – picking up the ball at head height in midfield, beating five defenders with skill and power, before unleashing a left-footed strike that flew into the net to level the scores at 2-2!

Cormack had to be alert to preserve the tie in the 71st minute with a great save after Brechin gave the ball away cheaply.

The game became increasingly tense. Sully picked up a booking in the 75th minute, and Wallace drove into the box in the 76th, cutting back to Sully whose shot was saved. Wallace's 80th-minute free-kick hit the wall, and Laurencekirk's number 10 fired straight at Grant in the 82nd.

Then came the decisive moment in the 85th minute. Sully's cross found Abel, whose shot was saved. The keeper then pulled off a wonder save from a Wallace follow-up. The ball broke to Postal from a failed clearance, Brechin swung the ball into the box to find Dowbekin rising highest to head home and make it 3-2 to Postal saving Christmas.

Full-time: Laurencekirk 3-2 Postal ALC

A really touch game for Postal today, Wallace with a brace of brilliant individual goals was a constant threat throughout. Defensive resilience from Cormack in goal and moments of quality from Ahmed, MacKenzie, Harry, and others kept the team in the contest until the end. Dowbekin with an excellent headed goal to save Christmas. 

Onto the next round.