ac milanda afc

MILANDA had to battle all the way for a point in their first ever meeting with Vale United. Vale, as their recent results had suggested, turned out to be powerful opponents and it took 100 per cent effort and concentration by every player in black and red to make sure something was taken from the game. In fact, Milanda might have had all three points if they had taken their chances but Vale would probably say exactly the same so a draw was about right at the end of 90 competitive minutes.

Vale’s main threat came from set-pieces on the day – their corner count must have been well into double figures – whereas Milanda’s chances tended to come from slick counter-attacks. It was ironic therefore that Vale’s goal was from a penalty and Milanda’s resulted from a free-kick.

With the regular front two of Martin Johnstone and Martin Coyle otherwise engaged and Scott Preston and Martin Bradburn still suspended, it was very much a changed Milanda line-up. Gerry Evans, who has been playing mostly in midfield of late, was given a striking role alongside Kevin Williamson who is winding down before hanging up his boots after a long and illustrious Milanda career.

Vale dominated the first half and their aerial threat caused Milanda a number of problems. Their No.9 missed a good chance right on the line, a free-kick resulted in them hitting the post and other efforts were blocked by the defence or keeper Craig Fawns.

At the other end, a Kevin Grehan corner hit the bar and other good chances slipped away. Williamson broke clear three times but was thwarted twice by the keeper and had another effort cleared off the line. Evans also got behind the Vale back line just before the break but a heavy first touch allowed the keeper to save at his feet.

The second half was much the same story but Vale broke the deadlock when Grehan’s rash tackle in the box resulted in a clear penalty that was coolly converted. Grehan made amends five minutes later with a chipped free-kick over a static Vale defensive line and defender Dave O’Neill took his time before firing the ball into the net from six yards.

Seven minutes later, a through ball by Mark Walker put Evans in on goal but he hurriedly shot wide. Vale had a number of headers off target and Fawns produced two excellent saves to keep Milanda in it. But the home team had another escape when Walker broke on the right and crossed for the unmarked Evans who headed wide with only the keeper to beat.

Vale complained long and hard about being denied another penalty in stoppage time after John Wilkie had challenged one of their forwards but referee Michael O’Brien had a good view of the incident and indicated the home player had thrown himself at the Milanda man. A controversial ending to a hard-fought game that neither side really deserved to win.

MOTM: Great team effort from numbers one to 11 but keeper Craig Fawns just edges the previous game’s winner, Dave O’Neill, for man of the match.