Postal ALC 6 V Ferryhill 2 - Friendly - Webster Park - 2nd Aug 2023

TEAM - 1. S.Walker 2. K.Dowbekin 3. A.Baxter 4. A.Riddell 5. L.Giulianotti 6. M.Hunter 7. A.Clark 8. J.Steele 9. L.Melia 10. S.Abel 11. B.Webster 12. S.Cotovici 14. B.Patterson 15. S.Carter 16. T.Reinard 16. G.Cormack 17. T.Goke-Dabiri 18. A.Esson 19. N.Wiley

OPPOSITION MOTM – N/A

Postal played Ferryhill in the last friendly before the season starts on the 5th. Interestingly, Ferryhill had ex Postie, Davy Wood starting in defence and Postal had ex Ferryhill players, Melia and Walker starting for the home side.

Postal got off to a great start when they scored in the first 30 seconds. A ball down the Postal right was collected by Melia. His reverse pass was met by Bruce Webster who slotted the ball low past the keeper. 1-0.

Two minutes later and Postal doubled their lead. A good in-swinging corner from Baxter on the Postal left was met at the back post by Melia who tapped it home. 2-0.

Postal were playing all the football at this point and were passing the ball out from the back really well.

On 11 minutes, they made it three. Another in-swinger from Baxter, this time the keeper got a hand to it but couldn’t hold and it dropped to the feed of Webster who knocked into the open net from 6 yards out. 3-0.

On 15 minutes, the impressive Ferryhill number 12 collected the ball around 20 yards out and hit a great shot which looked like it was heading into the roof of the Postal net. Walker, made a great save, though, diving high to his left to push it round the post.

Ferryhill were struggling to stay in touching distance and Postal made it four on the 25 minute mark. Good work by Dowbekin down the Postal right. The ball got back healed into the path of Abel who played it into Steele to stroke home. 4-0.

Dowbekin was involved again on 35 minutes when he played the ball into Melia. His header was knocked into the path of Bruce Webster who chipped it over the keeper for Postal’s 5th and his hat-trick. 5-0.

Postal new boy Steven Abel rounded off the Postal scoring to make it 6, five minutes before half time. Melia, again, did well to beat the defender for pace, crossed to Abel who knocked it home. 6-0.

HALF TIME – POSTAL ALC 6 – Ferryhill 0

Postal sent on 7 of their 8 subs at half time. Goke-Dabiri for Dowbekin, Patterson for Giulianotti, Carter for Riddell, Reinard for Hunter, Wiley for Webster, Cotovici for Abel and Esson for Melia.

On ten minutes great work from another impressive debutant, Travis Reinart, sent a weighted pass into the path of Wiley. He sent over a nice chip onto the head of Esson, but from 6 yards out the striker headed wide.

Fair to say Postal were struggling to get the same fluency to their passing as they had in the first half although credit to Ferryhill who battled hard to match Postal in the second half. Daz Macleod showing quality and experience for the away side after coming on at half time.

On 25 minutes Ferryhill pulled one back. Their keeper actually won the ball outside his box on the Postal left. They then broke forward down the left, sent over a low cross into box which Carter could only knock into his own net for an O.G. 6-1.

Not much more to tell for the rest of the game until Ferryhill pulled another back towards the end of the game. A low shot from the edge of the box, somehow went past the whole postal defence and ended up in the back of the net. Poor poor goal from a Postal point of view.

Overall, some excellent play from Postal today, especially in the first half. Good to score a few goals and impressive debuts from the new players. Thanks to Ferryhill for the game and the effort they showed to win the second half.

Next up Newburgh away. First game of 1st Division North.