ac milanda afc

After the goal fests of the previous two games it was reality check time for Milanda as they suffered their first competitive defeat of the season. Allander, so often a difficult opponent for Milanda, deservedly left with a clean sheet and all 3 pts and Milanda can have little complaint.

As games go Milanda made heavy weather of this game from the off and had a first half they would rather forget. The first and probably best Milanda chance of the first half fell to Williamson. A Fawns cross from the right found Williamson in space at the back post but he hurried his shot and the chance was gone.

At the other end Allander were using the width of the park to good effect and were pulling Milanda's back three all over the place. As they began to exploit the gaps that were appearing they were unlucky not to take the lead when Walker managed to palm a shot on to the post and the ball ran along the goalmouth before being cleared. It was a warning Milanda failed to heed and another long ball wasn't fully cleared and as it was returned into the box Preston fouled Allander forward Dougie in the box and a penalty was given. From the resultant kick Walker had no chance and Milanda were one down.

Milanda attempted to get back into the game but were continually frustrated by Allander whose midfield and back four were closing Milanda down and never allowing Milanda to settle. It increasingly looked like Milanda would have to rely on the dead ball situations to get back into the game. The most dangerous of these was from throw ins but in what was to become the pattern of the game each throw in brought more frustration as Williamson, who won almost every header, watched as his numerous knock ons failing to be converted.

It was a frustrating first half for Milanda as even when they got to the byeline cutbacks just couldn't find a Milanda man and passes were going astray all over the park. Allander continued to press Milanda and on one of those attacks they doubled their lead. Another defence splitting pass left Walker exposed on a one on one but he managed again to deflect the shot onto the wood work, this time the bar, but Allander were quicker to react and simple tap in from a couple of yards increased the pressure on Milanda.

Fawns had a half chance when he got on to the end of a flick on but the ball wouldn't come down quickly enough and he hurried his shot that didn't trouble the keeper.

The half time whistle signaled the end of a desperate first half from Milanda and McMillan rightly got stuck into his team for their poor display.

The second half was unfortunately more of the same. more effort was applied but the game looked to have already run away from Milanda. Again Williamson was winning everything in the air from throw ins but the closest they came to a goal was when Evans skied a knock on over from 6 yards. It summed up the morning perfectly. Evans had one of Milanda's few other chances of the 2nd half when he rode a couple of tackles but his shot was well saved.

Milanda brought on Reid for Williamson in an attempt to change things but little changed and Milanda Allander finally pushed the game beyond them with a 3rd goal. A free kick was hit long to the back post and a simple tap in was enough to make the pts safe. It could have been more for Allander but Walker made some important stops to keep the score down while at the other end the Allander keeper was having a relatively easy time of it.

Milanda welcomed the final whistle and can have little complaint about the final result. Hopefully just one of those mornings.

Man of the match – After a performance like that there usually aren't any contenders but Walker in the Milanda goal deserves some recognition for his efforts. Made a couple of important stops in the 1st half and was unlucky to see his save at the second goal come back off the bar and leave an easy tap in. When Allander threatened to add to their lead in the 2nd he made 2/3 saves to keep the score down. Probably the only person on the park who can be pleased with his performance.