POSTAL ALC 5 - BYRON SPORTS CLUB 0 - DIV2 NORTH - WEBSTER PARK 18/2/2023

TEAM - 1. G.Cormack 2. A.Riddell 3. A.Baxter 4. S.Carter 5. C.Collie 6. N.Wiley 7. A.Clark 8. B.Schrader 9. E.Martin 10. P.Frampton 11. M.Maciver 12. S.Cotovici 14. B.Webster. 15. N.MacDonald

OPPOSITION MOTM – P.Frampton

Postal’s first game at home of 2023 saw them play Byron for the second time this season. The last game was a tough earned 2-2 draw so a hard game was anticipated. Postal welcomed back Riddell, Baxter, Collie, Schrader and Frampton into the starting 11.

Postal had a scare in the first minute of the game, but keeper Cormack made a good save at the feet of the Byron player.

Two minutes later and Postal took the lead. A really good passing move caused Bryon to concede a throw in near the corner flag on the Postal right. From the resultant throw Postal worked the ball into the box, Clark laid the ball into the path of Wiley and he passed the ball high into the keepers right. Really nice finish. 1-0.

Postal missed a brilliant chance to double their lead a minute later. A nice pass through the square Bryon defence saw Frampton run on to it, and into the box with the ball at his feet. With only the keeper to beat he tried to pass it inside to Martin but the pass had too much power and ran out the park.

The next 15 minutes saw some sustained Byron pressure with a number of corner kicks which Postal had to defend. With last weeks set piece disaster still fresh in the memory, Postal defended well and kept the ball out the net.

On 23 minutes, Postal scored their second. Martin picked the ball up on the Postal right and was bundled over to give Postal a penalty. Frampton stepped up and dispatched low into the net. 2-0.

5 minutes later and Postal killed the game off as a contest. A fine cross from Maciver on the right into the box was cleared only as far as Clark who fired in a great shot high into the net from around 12 yards out. 3-0.

HALF TIME – POSTAL ALC – 3 – BYRON SPORTS CLUB - 0

Postal started the second half as they finished the first, on the attack.

The first clear cut chance of the half came 11 minutes in. Martin cut in from the Postal left and made the keeper pull of a good save. When the ball rebounded out to Frampton his attempt to put the ball into the open goal went wide. Well wide.

They scored their 4th a minute later though, and it was a near carbon copy of Wiley’s first goal as he passed another into the keepers right. Another great finish. 4-0.

Two minutes later Frampton picked the ball up on the Postal right after being played in behind the Byron defence. He kept his composure to slip the ball past the keeper. Good finish. 5-0.

The game began to peter out a bit after that goal. Postal had used all of their subs, so when Schrader had to come off with an injury the played the remaining 20 minutes with ten men.

On 41 minutes, Cormack made a good save from a Byron player after good approach player from Bryon into the box.

Frampton was played through on goal for one last chance on 45 minutes but the keeper saved.

Overall, a much better performance from Postal today. Solid defending, some great goals and a much improved attitude, effort and enthusiasm from all 14 players. Absolutely no complaints today. Well done.