ac milanda afc

One of the tightest games of the season and the scoreline reflected the fact that there was little to choose between the two sides. A draw a fair result although it benefits others but a hard won point nonetheless.

Milanda manager McMillan decided to make a number of changes to the team to nullify the Kilpatrick threat. It took a period of adjustment while the team got to grips with this change and it was during that time Kilpatrick took an early lead. The Kilpatrick No 9, so often a thorn in the Milanda side, broke clear on the edge of the box and as Fawns came out to close him down he calmly knocked the ball over fawns into the net. The kind of start Milanda had hoped to avoid.

Credit to the team though as they got themselves sorted out and began to make in roads into the Kilpatrick half. Chances were few and far between throughout the game and although Milanda dominated the rest of the first half they couldn't create an opening. They were however denied a stonewall penalty when Johnstone was clearly brought down on the edge of the 6 yard box. A mystery as to why the ref didn't give it. As part of this period of pressure a cross from Preston put the Kilpatrick keeper under pressure and he was relieved to see Crawford's header deflected for a corner.

With both defences on top there was little of real note happening around either goal. Grehan had a shot from 25 yards that was only a few yards off target and Coyle saw a free kick on the edge of the box cannon off the wall. Despite Milanda's dominance they couldn't find an equaliser before half time.

The second half started much as the first ended with Milanda taking the game to Kilpatrick and a Grehan free kick was helped on by Johnstone to Bradburn but his header was straight at the keeper. At the other end slack play by Coyle on the edge of his own box allowed Kilpatrick a chance but Fawns was well positioned to pluck the ball out of the air.

Milanda finally got the equaliser they deserved after an hour. A long throw by Duncan tempted the keeper to come off his line but he lacked any conviction under a challenge from Bradburn and the ball fell to Johnstone to knock it home at the near post. it was no more than Milanda deserved and set up a frantic last half hour. The goal sparked some life into a strangely subdued Kilpatrick who had been fairly quiet since the first 15 mins. They should have done better when Preston was left with 2 forwards to deal with but a hurried shot from the Kilpatrick no 9 didn't trouble Fawns. McColgan replaced Coyle as Milanda aimed to close the game down. Kilpatrick's fitness and younger legs were beginning to push Milanda back and Fawns had to be sharp to save with his feet after a breakaway.

As the match neared the final whistle nerves were beginning to show and Milanda visibly tired as the young legs of Kilpatrick began to take control and push Milanda back. Some gaps began to appear and one ball flashed across the 6 yard box begging for a touch but it eluded 2 Kilpatrick players. Then in the dying moments a controversial decision by the ref saw Kilpatrick denied the points. A break on the left ended with the ball being knocked a long the 6 yard box and an open goal presented itself. It was an easy tap in for the Kilpatrick player and it looked as if all Milanda's hard work was going to to go to waste but it was saved by the ref's whistle as he blew for offside. Kilpatrick were understandably aggrieved and it was very hard to tell if it was the correct decision or not. Whether it was or not was irrelevant though as his decision stood despite angry protests from Kilpatrick that were to continue after the match and saw one of their players red carded 4 times. Milanda were grateful to hear the final whistle and collect a point against a team that has handed out a few thumpings in the past.

MOTM - In contrast to last week everybody put in a great shift and it was an incredibly hard decision to select one player from a number of candidates. There wasn't a poor performance on the park from the defence who kept the chances for Kilpatrick to an absolute minimum, the midfield who were given a very tough task but performed heroically, and the forwards who were mostly feeding on scraps but tracked back and helped out their midfield when required. After much deliberation this weeks MOTM award goes to John Wilkie. Given a sweeping role in the new system he took a while to adjust but once the formation settled down so did he and he made some important interceptions and was part of an overall impressive defensive display.

Here's a link to rather one sided report from the Kilpatrick perspective.

We wuz robbed