ac milanda afc

Milanda stretched their unbeaten run to six games and have only been defeated once in 11 games. It was another hard fought and tight encounter. Conditions were less than ideal with driving rain and a strong wind which Milanda was against in the first half.

The conditions made the game very scrappy in the early stages. neither team could hold onto the ball and wayward passes were the norm rather than the exception. Milanda's first chance fell to captain for the night Crawford who was given a half chance after a Bradburn free kick was flighted into the box and Crawford was closest to it as it fell in the box but he couldn't get a solid enough connection on it and the keeper gathered.

At the other end Fawns had to be sharp when a corner made it all the way to the back post to find an Athletic player on his own but Fawns was in the right place to save his effort right on the line. Evans then made himself an opening when picking up a loose ball and running in on goal but his attempted lob sailed well over the bar.

Another corner was nearly was the undoing of Milanda when a near post flick came back off the bar. Milanda then took the lead just before the break when an Evans pass sent Bradburn clear and his run took him round the Athletic keeper. his shot though was headed off the line but from 12 yards out Grehan flighted a high ball back towards goal and this time the defender failed to clear the ball as mit moved in the wind and Milanda were ahead. Just before the half time whistle Russell was put through but from a tight angle the keeper saved his effort.

The second half was similar to the first with both teams creating chances. A Grehan cross was just inches too high for Bradburn who was free in the box. Fawns was called into action on a number of occasions to keep Milanda in front but he was helpless when the equaliser did arrive. Binnie was judged to have fouled an Athletic player in the box and the ref pointed to the spot. This time the offence was inside the box and for the 3rd game in a row Milanda conceded from the spot.

At this point the game could have gone either way. Athletic had two good chances from free kicks 20 yards out but neither worried Fawns unduly. Williamson, who had replaced Preston, sent Russell clear with Athletic claiming offside. Russell played on but had to be content with a throw in after the keeper forced the ball out.

The winner when it came once again, like Saturday, had Walker at the centre. A corner from bradburn on the right was only partially cleared and it fell to Walker 10 yards out. His shot was saved by the keeper but he could only push it away to his left and Crawford was first to react to smash it past the keeper despairing dive.

Athletic pushed for an equaliser but were frustrated by a dogged Milanda defence who were determined not to give up their hard fought lead. Their best chance came when their forward found himself on the 6 yard line with no one near him but he sclaffed his shot off the post. A bit of niggle crept into the game as Athletic began to get more and more frustrated but Milanda were not for moving though and defended brilliantly in the last 10 mins to take another 3 points.

A tough game in dire conditions. Both teams were missing players but Milanda just about deserved the win in the end.

MOTM: Hard one to choose. Defence were solid throughout and despite a late onslaught never allowed Athletic much time or space, midfield as ever worked tirelessly and upfront little reward or chances for their sweat and toil. This week though the award is going to Jim Binnie despite him giving away the penalty. Always a reliable man to have in your team and he typified the dogged resistance of the defence.