AC Milanda 2 Hillhead 1 (HT (1-1)

MARTIN JOHNSTONE scored both goals as Milanda took full points from a hard-fought match. Last season’s top scorer had the home side ahead but Hillhead fought back to level and it looked as if another draw was going to be the outcome until Johnstone struck again with just a couple of minutes left.

Milanda enjoyed the bulk of the play but a mixture of good goalkeeping and missed chances meant that the three points weren’t in the bag until referee James Carberry blew the final whistle.

The Hillhead keeper had a couple of excellent saves, notably a tip-over from a fierce Mark Reid drive, before Milanda went ahead from a set-piece after 25 minutes. Andy Wilson sent over an excellent corner from the right and Johnstone got in front of his marker to head powerfully home at the near post.

But the lead lasted a mere 13 minutes. Milanda were actually looking threatening inside the visitors’  when a back-heel by Martin Coyle found no team-mate, allowing Hillhead to show their ability to counter-attack at pace. The ball was quickly played down the right and then into the Milanda box where keeper Craig Fawns managed to stick out a foot to save the first shot before being beaten by the second

A minute later Milanda could have scored again. Gerry Evans, who suffered from a couple of incorrect offside decisions, burst through the middle but saw his shot saved by the keeper who had raced out to narrow the angle.

The second half was much the same story as the first with Milanda making more chances but failing to capitalise Coyle came close twice with headers from another Wilson corner and a Johnstone cross and, sandwiched between those efforts, Evans missed a glorious opportunity from close range after being set up by Johnstone.

But Milanda kept plugging away and got their reward in the 88th minute when Mark Russell played Johnstone through a square Hillhead defence and he calmly shot past the keeper.
All in all a good team performance, especially with so many recognised central defenders out through injury or other commitments.

MOM: No failures in any department but fit-again Mark Russell and Jim Binnie got through a lot of hard graft in midfield and Andy Wilson again produced some fantastic passes and crosses. But on the grounds that you don’t win games unless you stick the ball in the net, the MOM award goes to Martin Johnstone.