WESTEND UNITED V POSTAL ALC - DIVISION TWO (NORTH).

TEAM - 1. R.LAING. 2. S.CLARK 3. P.COUTTS. 4. M.STEER. 5. B.PATTERSON.

6. S.STUART. 7. L.BEATTIE. 8. S.ROBERTSON. 9. R.INSCH. 10. R.LAW.

11. A.TAYLOR. 12. M.MACIVER. 14. L.MACKIE. 15. G.DAVIDSON. 16. C.MACANESPIE. 17. P.FRAMPTON.

OPPOSITION MOTM – B.Patterson

Postal arrived at a surprisingly mild Hazlehead with a strong squad to choose from for this Division Two (North) League game against struggling West End United.

Changes to the previous game were made to the starting eleven. Steer started in defence replacing the suspended Carter. Stuart and Taylor came back into midfield and Insch started up front.

Postal started the game on top but weren’t exactly setting the heather alight.

The build-up play was decent but the final ball was either over or under hit and the control of the first ball at times left a lot to be desired. Understandably, perhaps, given the previous game was 4 weeks ago.

The home side scored, against the run of play, on 22 minutes. A simple enough looking ball over the top of the Postal defence was picked up by a Westend player in the Postal box on the left of the Postal box. His cut back was picked up by an unmarked player in the middle of the box who did well to steady himself and shoot home, low to Laing’s right bottom corner. 1-0.

The next ten minutes were fairly even as Postal looked a bit shell shocked.

They finally created a clear cut chance on 37 minutes when good passing around the West End box saw Taylor play a well weighted ball into the path of Insch but he could only shoot past the post with his effort. Good move though.

A minute later and Postal equalised. A flick-on from Insch into the path of, the strong running, Law saw the midfielder make no mistake to fire home from about 6 yards out. 1-1.

A minute later and Postal were in front. A free kick from Coutts on the Postal left was only half cleared to Clark on the right who delivered a great cross into the box where Robertson expertly volleyed home to make it 1-2.

Postal scored their third in as many minutes when Robertson scored his second of the afternoon when he latched onto a bouncing ball in the Westend box after a corner from Postal wasn’t cleared properly. 1-3.

HALF TIME – WESTEND UNITED 1 – POSTAL ALC 3.

Postal swapped Coutts for Mackie at half time after the full back had picked up a soft booking in the first half.

The half was only ten minutes old when Postal scored their fourth of the afternoon. Insch was sent through on goal. He then unselfishly played it back to the on-running Taylor. He was tackled but when the ball fell to Law he kept his composure to slot the ball into the net. Good finish. 1-4.

Postal then took the opportunity to get the subs on (Maciver, Macanespie and Frampton for Stuart, Insch and Beattie) followed by Davidson for Robertson.

On a very tight pitch today, Postal dominated the remainder of the half without really creating any clear-cut chances until 41 minutes when good work from Maciver on the right played in Macanespie who kept his composure and rounded the keeper to pass into the net. 1-5.

It was the substitutes who combined again on 44 minutes. Maciver did really well again to battle for the ball on the Postal right. His cross fizzed across the face of the box where Frampton, making his first appearance of the season was on-hand to knock home at the back post. 1-6.

Overall Postal weren’t at their best today with some rustiness from the Xmas break obvious. That said, you cant complain about a 1-6 victory against a young Westend team who played much better than their previous results suggested they could play.

Also good to get players back from injury today and the squad is looking strong going into the second half of the season. Well done.