ac milanda afc

MILANDA brought their four-game sequence of draws to an end thanks to a late winner by Scott Preston. It looked like being five one-pointers for Milanda as they struggled to add to the Martin Johnstone goal that had nullified Renfrew's early penalty. But Preston celebrated his return from a three-game suspension by providing the winning goal for the second time this season. It was tough luck on Renfrew who deserved a draw and they were left to rue missed chances.

Renfrew made the better start and took the lead from the spot after just five minutes. Andy Scott was judged to have fouled one of the Renfrew attackers when all he was guilty of was a stumble that accidentally brought the player down.
However, the referee saw it differently and gave a penalty that was tucked away.

Milanda top scorer Johnstone, ably supported up front by Kevin Williamson, began to cause Renfrew all sorts of problems.
He teased and tormented opposition defenders with a number of good runs but on a big pitch his team-mates struggled to support him from midfield and most of his good work came to nothing. He was unlucky on one occasion, however, with a volley that the Renfrew keeper did well to keep out with the assistance of the frame of the goal.

Milanda began the second half with 10 men, Kevin Grehan having been forced to head back to the pavilion for an unscheduled pit stop, but they came more and more into the match. Renfrew's keeper did well to push away another Johnstone shot after a great run and some amazing footwork by the Milanda man. Then Williamson failed to get a good connection on a ball that broke to him in the box and the ball trickled wide.

A goal seemed to be coming and it duly arrived when Johnstone headed home a well-struck corner by Martin Bradburn from close range. Mark Walker was also in there challenging and he directed the ball towards goal but the Dubious Goals Committee awarded Johnstone his 15th of the season.

The momentum appeared to be with Milanda at this point but a couple of susbstitutions refreshed Renfrew and they began to look a threat. Some sloppy defensive play by Milanda players, some of whom seemed to be tiring, helped the home side create opportunities and they should have taken the lead from a second penalty.

Dave O'Neill brought down a Renfrew attacker a couple of feet outside the box but the referee gave a penalty rather than a free-kick. It was a hard decision to take, especially after the earlier spot-kick award, but at least the official didn't make it a double punishment by giving in to Renfrew's requests to send O'Neill off. Justice was done in the eyes of Milanda when Renfrew's spot-kick specialist saw his second attempt from 12 yards hit Craig Fawns' left-hand post and go wide.

The game could have gone either way after this. Fawns came to Milanda's rescue when he palmed away a shot he must have seen late inside a crowded box. With time running out it was Milanda who struck the killer blow. Grehan took a corner from the right and Preston outjumped everyone to power home a close-range header.

Milanda have played better and lost but everyone worked hard and it was nice to be rewarded with a rub of the green for a change.

MOTM: Martin Johnstone. Best player on the park by a mile