ac milanda afc

What a difference a week makes. After the capitulation of last week Milanda put in a storming first half to take the game out of Ferguslie's reach and send Milanda to the top of the pile in Division A.

There was a strong wind blowing for this game on the banks of the Clyde and Ferguslie decided to turn round and play with the wind at their backs in the first half. It looked as if Milanda would be up against it for the first 45 but that's not how it turned out.

Milanda started well and sensibly countered the strong wind by playing football on the deck and they were rewarded after 7 mins when a Johnstone cross from the left made it through to Evans lurking at the back post. As he was challenged the ball broke into the 6 yard box and Coyle was first to react and slid in to smash the ball into the net. An excellent start continued when after 17 mins it was two. This time a cross from the right by McColgan that was allowed to run across the 6 yard box and it looked as if it would go harmlessly out until Evans arrived late at the back post and bundled the ball across the line.

Milanda were in complete control and Ferguslie were finding the wind a hindrance rather than a help as balls were running out of play all over the park. Milanda were pressing for more goals and Grehan did well to make himself room on the edge of the box but his shot failed to find the target. A few mins later though he was celebrating his first Milanda goal. A Bradburn pass putt Johnstone clear on the right and his cross into the box found Coyle and his cross/shot was turned in by Grehan at the backpost. Ferguslie claimed offside about 4 times during the move but the ref waved their protests away.

On 25 mins Brian Dunn fell for the 'In Only Fools and Horse what was Uncle Albert's first name?' joke. and anyone who just tried to think of the answer just punch yourself in the face.

The hilarity continued on the park after Preston got the break of the ball and was clear down the right wing but a sniper in the trees took him out and he stumbled to the turf in an excellent comedy fall style.

Ferguslie finally give Fawns something to think about after Addison gave away a free kick on the edge of the box. The effort is on target but Fawns saves with his foot before the ball is cleared up the park.

The 'football is fun morning keeps going when Bradburn is presented with a glorious chance to make it 4 when the Ferguslie keeper comes storming out of his box to clear as Johnstone threatened but only succeeded in sending it straight to Bradburn who has an empty net but from 25 yards pulls his shot wide.

From the resultant bye kick it is 4-0 as the ball goes straight to Johnstone who slides it calmly under the advancing keeper.  Bradburn tries to claim an assist.

Sadly half time arrives as Milanda threaten to run over the top of a demoralised Ferguslie. During the break stand in captain Coyle is replaced by real captain Williamson.

The early moments of the 2nd half see Ferguslie try to get themselves back into the game but mostly their shots are high and wide although a quick free kick does hit the post.

Milanda weather the early storm and start heading towards the Ferguslie goal once again and should have made it 5. A great ball in from Bradburn sends Williamson clear one on one and although he takes it round the keeper he makes a complete arse of it. Another comedy moment. A few moments later and Bradburn is again the provider and his low cross sees a Williamson left foot shot reach the target this time but the keeper saves.

The fifth goal is only delayed a short time. A Grehan corner is cleared to the edge of the box but an attempted clearance from the Ferguslie player on only succeeds in putting it back into the danger area and Bradburn flicks it with his head into the net from 8 yards.

The game is coasting towards its inevitable conclusion when all hell breaks loose with 10 mins left.  The Ferguslie centre forward, who had been leaving the boot in and was responsible for a number of late challenges throughout the match, was unable to take his own medicine when he was fouled and got up and proceeded to start boxing.  The resultant scuffle saw a combination of those trying to sort out the warring factions and those wanting to get involved. The referee had an impossible task and in the aftermath the Ferguslie centre was correctly red carded along with Preston and Bradburn from Milanda.  Whether their cards were deserved or not was hard to tell. The Ferguslie boss on the touchline, who was also a sub, was red carded for his part in the proceedings. He didn't take it well and was red carded at least one more time before eventually heading to the dressing room during unsavoury scenes. The whole incident was completely out of the blue as the game was played in a sporting manner and Ferguslie had long accepted the game was beyond them.

Order was eventually restored and the game restarted. Nine man Milanda pulled Williamson back into defence to partner Grant in a 92 (nearly 93) year old defensive partnership to see out the remainder of the game.  They couldn’t however help Fawns keep a clean sheet when a ball bounced about the pen box after a corner and somehow found 3 Ferguslie players on their own and one of them got their consolation goal. The game finished without further incident and despite the flare up it shouldn't take away from an excellent Milanda performance where the only complaint was that they should have scored more goals. So top of the league and to stay there all Milanda have to do is win all their reamaining games.

MOTM - An excellent first half saw many candidates especially from the Milanda midfield who bossed the game completely. The 2nd half saw the defence more invovled and Walker after a quiet first half was much more in the thick of the action and made some good interceptions as Ferguslie pushed forward. This week's MOTM award though goes to Kevin Grehan who not only got his first Milanda goal but was involved in a lot of the excellent moves during the first half dominance.