ac milanda afc

MILANDA gave one of their better performances against the GDSML champions and were unlucky to take nothing from the game.Martin Coyle and his men were twice ahead and missed excellent chances to score more goals but in the end Baillieston showed why they are top of the table by finally powering to victory.For large chunks of the game you would have been hard pushed to pick which team was leading the league and which was propping it up.

Milanda reverted to a 4-4-2 formation and looked comfortable from the off. Baillieston had one or two near things around goal but it was Milanda who went ahead after 10 minutes when Colin Kelly used his pace and trickery to get the better of a couple of defenders before firing past the keeper at the second attempt.

Ten minutes later the Baillieston keeper prevented his side going further behind when he tipped a Kevin Grehan shot over the bar.Chris Preston did well to keep out a header at the other end before Baillieston pulled level after 34 minutes.

But Milanda didn’t let the heads go down and Coyle put them 2-1 ahead with a curling shor from an exquisite through pass by Paul Ross.The Baillieston keeper  thwarted Milanda’s trialist midfielder when it seemed certain the score would go to 3-1.

Milanda haven’t had much luck this season and disaster befell them again when Baillieston equalised just before the break and keeper Preston had to go off with an injured shoulder. Craig Fawns, who had been playing well at right-back, took the gloves and Gerry Evans went into defence.

Two apiece at the break, Milanda could be pleased with their efforts but they failed to take some good chances early in the second period. The closest they came was when Kelly outstripped the defence and lobbed the ball over the advancing keeper only to watch it bounce on top of the bar.

Lee Colvin cleared one off the line at the other end before Baillieston took a 3-2 lead in the 70th minute and then added a fourth before the end.

MOTM: Every player can be pleased with his contribution and it’s not often this season that has been the case. Martin Johnstone, back in the side after injury, worked tremendously hard but was out of luck in front of goal and strike partner Coyle was brighter than of late. The midfield, often outnumbered, also looked solid while the new-look defence, with Andy Scott playing well in his first full game for some weeks, didn’t lose the kind of cheap goals that have blighted this campaign. Tough to choose our best player but once again John Clifford was calm and assured and a great help to those around him so he takes the award.