ac milanda afc

Milanda's hopes of keeping the pressure on league leaders Club Athletic were dashed when they lost for the second time this season to Invac. Especially as Club Athletic lost at home to Allander. A team missing several regulars and including new signing Hugh Dullaghan was no match for the Cowglen boys who were fitter and stronger on a big pitch that was very heavy, particularly in the goalmouths.

Despite a promising start that saw them take the lead, Milanda literally got bogged down and rarely looked anything other than second best. The opener came early on when the Invac keeper missed his attempt to punch away a Mark Reid corner, allowing Scott Preston to head home at the back post. However, Preston, who had been playing in midfield, didn't take much further part in the game due to hamstring trouble. Thomas Addison went on at right-back, allowing Dullaghan to move into midfield.

Invac came storming back in search of an equaliser and put together some threatening attacks but when they did get on terms it was a real gift of a goal. Craig Fawns clearly shouted that he would claim a cross from the left but team-mate Andy Scott got in his way and when the ball bounced off his head it left the keeper stranded as one of the Invac forwards knocked the ball into the unguarded net.

Martin Coyle set up an opportunity for Reid to get on the scoresheet at the other end but his effort was well off target. Fawns had some good saves after that but it looked as if Milanda might reach the break level until Scott Grant lost possession of the ball near the halfway line. Invac broke forward and took advantage of a pedestrian defence to score a simple second.

Early in the second half, Invac scored their third goal. A simple ball over the top found the entire defence moving out and the home team's right winger ran on to set up another easy finish for one of his strike partners.

Despite being two goals behind, Milanda tried hard to get back in the game and made a couple of very good chances. A Paul Murray pass was cleverly dummied by Coyle to let Reid into the box but the keeper pulled off a good save from his shot. Then Murray found himself with a chance at the back post but again the Invac No.1 was equal to the shot. If those chances had gone in, there might have been a chance to take something from the game but Invac went on to score another tap-in after Fawns had done well to parry a powerful drive.

To sum up, a miserable performance on a cold, wet, miserable day. Invac have now put nine goals past Milanda for the loss of three in two league meetings and they could be challenging up at the top of the table when they start catching up with their fixtures.

MAN OF THE MATCH ? Dullaghan impressed on his debut with his fitness and tenacity and Fawns did little wrong despite the fact he lost four goals but the award goes to Marc McColgan who grafted in midfield throughout the 90 minutes and didn't deserve to be on the losing side.