ac milanda afc

THE curse of Coatbridge struck again as AC Milanda finished another away game with AFC Columba empty handed. Milanda were the dominant side in the first half and had their fair share of possession in the second but paid the penalty for missed chances as Columba hit them with quick counter-attacks. Injuries to Kevin Williamson in the first half and Mark Russell in the second didn’t help but can’t be used as an excuse for a disappointing performance.

Martin Johnstone had a shot deflected wide in the early minutes and that summed up a night when his luck was always out in front of goal. He then laid on a chance for Martin Bradburn with a perfect cutback but his fellow striker’s shot was saved. Kevin Grehan fired a free-kick wide before Johnstone again threatened the Columba defence. This time, though, his header came back off a post. A Davie Crawford header went past from a Grehan corner, then Bradburn hit the ball tamely at the keeper after again being set up by Johnstone.

Milanda were often guilty of trying to play football on a pitch that wasn’t meant for it instead of getting the ball forward quickly to the front three. It was from the breakdown of one such piece of play in the 53rd minute that one of the Columba midfielders burst forward and beat Craig Fawns with an excellent long-range strike although it took a deflection on the way that took it out of the keeper's reach.

They almost scored a quick second but this time a header was tipped over the bar by Fawns. Johnstone had a powerful drive touched round the post and another effort finger-tipped over the bar before Milanda finally squared the match in the 64th minute. Grehan provided the delivery from a corner and Crawford outjumped everyone to nod home.

There was cautious optimism Milanda could go on and take full points at this stage but it was sadly misplaced. Another long ball stretched the defence five minutes later. Fawns came out but failed to clear properly and the ball was lobbed into the net. Seven minutes later Dave O’Neill was left for dead on the right by one of the Columba forwards and another well-struck shot sealed the points for the home team.

Milanda could have no complaints. Columba had fewer clear-cut chances put but the ball away three times and that, after all, is what this game is about.

MOTM: Davie Crawford. Defended well and popped up with another good goal.