ac milanda afc

Hangover Saturday gave AC Milanda good reason to go out and get drunk all over again as they recorded a solid win over one of the form teams in the division. The Saturday prior to Santa’s arrival has a habit of turning into the nightmare before Christmas with players suffering after office parties or, worse still, not turning up at all. Milanda did have one or two selection problems caused by too much festive cheer but their opponents perhaps suffered more on this score after a team night out.

There had been doubt about the game due to heavy rain on Friday but the pitch wasn’t too bad, which is a credit to the Stepford ground staff, and the teams provided an entertaining 90 minutes.

The scoreline perhaps reflects a little unkindly on DS who worked hard throughout – none more so than ex-Milanda man Joe Malcolmson in midfield – but were not as clinical as usual with their finishing. Milanda were 3-0 up at half-time - it could easily have been 5-3 – and remained in command during a tighter second half.

The first goal was extremely well worked. Kevin Williamson fed Martin Coyle on the right and his deep cross to the back post found Ross Early who planted a firm header past the keeper.
No.2 was more route one in nature. Gerry Evans played a long ball over the top and Martin Johnstone got away from his marker to fire the ball low into the corner of the net.

Coyle missed a good chance to add to the team’s tally but just as his team-mates were imploring the management to “get him aff” he produced the goods. Johnstone did the spadework on the left and then played the ball back for Coyle to find the target.

At half-time the message was simple – this game isn’t over. The young and enthusiastic DS go full tilt for 90 minutes and it was important not to give them any encouragement to cut the deficit.

What do Milanda do? Give them a chance straight from kick-off with some sloppy defending on the part of Thomas Addison. Fortunately, DS failed to cash in and Milanda went about the task of increasing their lead.

There were some near misses but only one more goal, substitute Martin Bradburn coolly placing the ball into the corner of the net from close range after being set up by Johnstone. Malcolmson got his award for a terrific shift by scoring the DS goal from a free-kick late in the match.

MOTM: The defending was a lot better of late, with John Wilkie and Dave O’Neill looking cool and assured. Alongside them Addison had a decent game apart from that lapse at the start of the second half and a needless booking for the second week in a row. Keeper Fawns, too, played well and had one particularly good save with his feet in the first half. The five-man midfield performed to a high standard, Evans, Early and Williamson contributing goals or assists and Marc McColgan and Jim Binnie breaking up attacks with a superb work rate. Up front Coyle is getting back to something like his best form after injury and teamed well with Johnstone.
Subs Bradburn, Scott Preston and Mark Walker also played their parts in the second half. Picking the man of the match is tricky from such a good overall performance but goals win games and the man who did more than anyone to provide them was Martin Johnstone so the accolade goes to him.