POSTAL ALC 4 - BRYON SPORTSCLUB 2. Div 2 North - Webster Park - 29th April 2023.

TEAM - 1. G.Clark 2. S.Carter. 3. A.Baxter. 4. A.Riddell. 5. B.Patterson. 6. K.Dowbekin. 7. A.Clark. 8. M.Hunter. 9. L.Melia 10. B.Webster. 11. E.Martin. 12. C.Collie. 14. N.MacDonald. 15. N.Wiley. 16. P.Frampton. 17. M.Maciver

OPPOSITION MOTM – L.Melia

Postal welcomed Byron to Webster Park for their third meeting of the season. Despite their lowly league position, Byron usually prove to be tough opposition so a tough match was envisaged.

With all three signed keepers unavailable today, Geoff Clark did the home side a good turn by putting on the gloves and by all reports did really well.

Apart from that, it was the same starting 11 that beat Newmachar last Saturday.

Postal started the match well with Alex Clark having a 1-on-1 with the keeper in the first 5 mins, but the keeper saved well.

On ten minutes Melia hit the post with a shot after a cross from Webster. The big man is on fire at the moment after coming back from injury and picked up his 3rd man of the match award on the bounce today.

Postal had a number of corners in the first 20 minutes and it was from one of these that they scored when Hunter scored from 5 yards out for his 7th of the season. 1-0.

After this, Postal sat far too deep though and didn’t play any football at all.

Martin had a chance at the back post but it went wide.

A free kick into the Postal box by Byron was only half cleared and a Byron midfielder stroked it home from 15 yards out. Claims for a push on Alex Clark were brushed aside by the ref. 1-1.

A Riddell clearance off the line saved Postal when 9 roasted Patterson down the line, squared to a forward who’s shot was cleared.

On 30 minutes Patterson misjudged the ball and a Byron forward was through on goal. Patterson recovered to ease into him and he blazed wide.

Postal had dropped down a level now and were struggling to get back up again.

Half time ended all equal.

HALF TIME – POSTAL ALC 1 – BYRON SPORTS CLUB 1

Byron took the lead when the number 9 dropped into midfield, played it to a Byron midfielder who hit a screamer from 25 yards in off the bar. 1-2.

Nick Wiley replaced Hunter, MacDonald replaced Martin and Frampton replaced Webster.

All three subs would have a positive impact on Postal’s play second half but MacDonald, in particular, was composed on the ball and created chances for Postal with some really good through balls.

Byron had a chance to double their lead when a rebound from a Patterson header fell into the path of their number 10 but luckily for Postal he hit it over the bar again.

Time was now running out and the Postal sideline were thinking the worse. But with only 6 minutes to go, the game would turn around in dramatic fashion.

A free kick was sent in by Riddell from the Postal right and Melia latched on to the ball to level. 2-2.

Soon after and it was Melia, again, who took the ball down in the box and scored to give Postal the all important lead. 3-2.

Postal were awarded a pen right on the death. Substitute Frampton stepped forward to put the game out of Byron’s grasp. 4-2.

Overall, not the best performance from Postal today. Credit though, to keep going to the final whistle and get the all important 3 points. Mark of a good team that collects all three points after a poor performance. Fourth win on the bounce. 3 Games to go and still in with a decent chance of promotion. Well done.