Stoneywood Amateurs 0 - Postal ALC 2 - Div 2 - Stauff Park - Wed 15th April 2026

Postal travelled out to Stauff Park to take on Stoneywood AFC who sit one place above Postal in the league. The sides met previously in the league with Stoneywood taking all three points in a 1 – 3 win at Webster Park.  With 21 players available for this encounter Postal were forced into making changes from the Lads Club fixture.

The team lined up as below:

1. Grant Cormack

2. Andrew Riddell

3. Bruce Webster

4. Euan Brechin

5. Craig Mackie

6. James Steele

7. Andreas Jones (S)

8. Alex Clark

9. Duncan MacKenzie (S)

10. Sultan Ahmed

11. Harry McAuley

Bench: 

12. Scott Stuart (S)

13. Vinnie Buggie

14. Adam Veitch

15. Fraser Smith

16. Mark Robb

17. Luca Giulianotti (S)

The match began with Postal on the front foot after kicking off, though an early scare arrived in just the second minute. Riddell conceded a free kick, and the resulting delivery caused problems — after a deflection, the Stoneywood number 21 rattled the crossbar, though the offside flag spared Postal.

Postal quickly settled and began creating chances. In the 10th minute, McAuley did well to win a corner, and Steele’s delivery caused chaos. The ball eventually fell back to McAuley, whose cross picked out MacKenzie, but his effort from seven yards drifted wide.

The pressure continued. Five minutes later, another corner—this time from Riddell—found MacKenzie again in a promising position, but he miskicked from close range when it seemed easier to score.

Postal remained dominant in attacking areas but couldn’t find the breakthrough. In the 22nd minute, a ball from the right reached the back post, where the number 19 from Stoneywood could only guide his effort wide with his knee. Shortly after, Steele was played through and forced a solid save from the keeper with a left-footed strike.

Defensively, Postal stayed alert. On 29 minutes, following a Stoneywood corner the ball landed to number 14 who looked destined to knock the ball home only for Steele to nick the ball away.  Great intervention.

On the half-hour mark, the Stoneywood keeper’s kick out went straight to MacKenzie. The ball eventually broke to Clark, who attempted an ambitious effort from distance, but it sailed over the bar.

Set pieces continued to be a theme. Riddell sent a free kick over in the 35th minute, while Stoneywood’s own effort three minutes later was comfortably blocked by the wall. Just before the break, Riddell delivered another dangerous free kick, with Jones attempting to chest the ball home, but it drifted wide.

HT 0 - 0

The second half started much like the first, with Postal probing. In the 49th minute, Ahmed headed wide from a Riddell cross, but moments later the breakthrough finally came.

On 50 minutes, MacKenzie controlled the ball well and got a shot away from 18 yards. Ahmed reacted quickest to the rebound but was brought down heavily by the defender, leaving the referee no choice but to point to the spot. Riddell stepped up confidently and blasted the penalty home to give Postal a deserved lead 0-1.  Great penalty from the Postal right back who seems to be scoring or assisting every other game at the minute.

Postal nearly extended their advantage soon after. Following a foul conceded by Ahmed 25 yards out, Cormack claimed the resulting free kick confidently and quickly launched a counter. MacKenzie linked play well, laying the ball off to Clark, whose long-range effort narrowly missed the target.

The attacking intent continued. On 60 minutes, Jones drove down the line and delivered a dangerous cross to McAuley, whose shot was saved. Ahmed was again alert on the follow-up, but the keeper produced an excellent stop to tip the ball around the post.

Stoneywood offered occasional threats, including a free kick over the bar in the 65th minute, but Postal remained largely in control. Jones was again influential in the 68th minute, surging down the flank and delivering a cross that deflected onto the bar—another near miss.

As the game progressed, Postal kept pushing for a second goal to secure the result. Giulianotti tried his luck from distance in the 75th minute but couldn’t find the target.

The decisive moment came late on. In the 84th minute, Riddell fired in another dangerous free kick. The ball fell to Brechin, who combined brilliantly with Giulianotti in a quick one-two before smashing a powerful finish high into the net, sealing the victory in style 0-2.  Two goalkeepers wouldn’t have been able to save the shot it was struck so well.

FT 0 – 2

Another great performance from Postal on the road.  Defence looked water tight while the midfield worked extremely hard breaking up play and setting off the forwards.  Forwards looked dangerous going forward and caused Stoneywood problems all night.  8 games to go for Postal in the league, a period in which multiple players look to be reaching top form.  Great team win.

FT 0 – 2

MoM – Euan Brechin

Goals – Andrew Riddell, Euan Brechin

Booked – N/A