AC Milanda 5 Invac 3 (HT (1-2)

A tough encounter that a Coyle hat-trick finally turned the game in Milanda's favour against the 10 men of Invac.

Invac have always been a dificult team for jmilanda to beat and despite only being able to field 10, players made Milanda fight all the way to the final whislte for their three points and deserve a lot of credit for the way they played.

Milanda were first to threaten when Reid and Johnstone combined down the left and MJ's cross was just picked out by the Invac keeper as McColgan challenged. The keeper wasn't happy at the attention he got from McColgan but the ball was there to be won.

The play swept up the other end and fawns made an an excellent stop and was grateful to see Wilkie block the rebound. A few mins later Johnstone fired over from 12 yards after good work from Evans and Coyle let Evans get in a cross from the right. It was then Coyle's turn to have a shot on goal when he neatly slipped by his man and midfield and he watched his shot sail just over the bar from 25 yards.

Invac meanwhile were conserving energy and not committing too many men forward in case they were cuaght out by the extra man. Johnstone again was set up by Evans but couldn't keep his volley down. The tables were tirned when it was johnstone who sent over a deep cross that Evans controlled on his chest before seeing his shot smothered by the keeper. Despite the pressure Invac had made a few forays up the park and it was from one of these that they took the lead. A long ball caught Preston in two minds and his indecision was punished when the Invac forward made himself an angle in the box and found the net via the inside of the post.

Milanda responded and a quick interplay of passes between Reid and Johnstone on the edge of the box presented Reid with a chance to shoot but he was leaning back too far and his shot doesn't trouble the keeper.

With a couple of mins of the half left Invac double their lead. A ball on the left is sent into the box and after a neat turn the forward sends a right foot shot across Fawns into the net. Things weren't going according to plan for Milanda. Milanda's response is immediate and Preston curls home a right foot shot after the ball breaks loose after a corner.

Milanda have a great chance to equalise in the first min of the 2nd half when Reid pressures the centre half into a mistake and leaves Johnstone with a chance but he pulss his shot wide of the left hand post.

10 mins into the half though and Milanda do equalise. A Murray corner seems an easy catch for the Invac keeper but he drops the ball on the goaline and Coyle uses his knee to force the ball over the line. being on lvel terms didn't last long though. In one of Invac's rare attacks they break down the right and the resultant cross is diverted into the net by the in rushing players chest.

Back to the drawing board for Milanda and Evans smacks one off the bar and as it looks to be going out for a bye kick McColgan acrobatically keeps it in play for Murray to cross but the invac defence manange to clear it. A min later Coyle breaks into the box but has his shot well blocked by the keeper as Milanda turn up the heat. The pressure finally tells and Evans is set up in the box by Coyle and his left foot shot catches the keeper wrong footed and it's all sqaure again.

This time Milanda don't let the game slip and take the lead for the first time in the match with the goal of the game. Coyle slips his man on the left hand edge of the box and unleashes an unstoppable shot the flies into the net leaving the keeper no chance.

Invac should be down and out at this point but waste a great chance to level the scores when a fortunate first touch wrong foots the entire Milanda defence but they get back in time to defelect the shot for a corner.

Reid then has a chance to seal the points but can't keep his shot down. Then a Coyle pass into Johnstone gives him a chance to shoot but he watches as the ball comes back off the post. Addison decides to get in on the act and makes a great run down the left leaving Invac palyers trailing in his wake but he runs out of steam as the keeper closes him down.

As the clock ticks down Mialnda look to have the 3 points and in the 90th min they do finall seal it when Johnstone roles the ball into Coylkes path and he steers the ball into an empty net to seal his hat-trick.

There was still time for the miss of the season though when Coyle is clear in on goal in injury time. he rounds the keeper and has the goal at his mercy but decides to hit it off the post. Much hilarity on the touchline.

That is the final action of the game and the points are finally safe after a spirited performance from 10 man Invac.

MOTM - No contest this week. Coyle had a great game and was superb in the 2nd half and bagged a well deserved hat-trick. Should have been four but that miss was worth it for the comedy value. Special mention to Scott Preston who played well in the first half and made a few important interceptions.