AC Milanda 5 Ferguslie 5 (HT 4-3)

WITHOUT either of their regular keepers, Milanda struggled and in the end had to be content with a point from this goal feast. Scott Grant volunteered to go between the sticks for the team’s last league game and did well at times despite being given little cover by his defenders.

Milanda took too long to realise they would be vulnerable to set-pieces and found themselves 3-1 down at one stage. The performance was not one of the better ones but no one can criticise the battling qualities of the team and, with so many regulars missing, it might be argued a draw wasn’t a bad way to end what has been a much better than expected season.

Milanda lost a goal to a header after two minutes but showed their own ability from set-pieces four minutes later when Ferguslie failed to defend a long throw from Paul Murray and skipper for the night Kevin Williamson fired in the loose ball.

Another two free headers had Ferguslie 3-1 up before 15 minutes had been played but |Milanda got one back quickly when Martin Coyle knocked on a Murray throw with his head and Jim McGowan appeared like a shadow at the back post to nod home.

Martin Johnstone passed up a good chance when his touch failed him at the vital moment, Murray had a shot saved and Ross Early knocked a superb chance wide as Milanda fought hard to get back on terms. Eventually parity was restored on the half-hour when another Murray throw saw Williamson knock the ball in with his head.

Two minutes before the break, Milanda were ahead in the match for the first time when a Murray throw was cleared only as far as Binnie who headed powerfully past the keeper.
Milanda had the upper hand for most of the second half but failed to make the most of their possession and paid for that when Ferguslie equalised from a free-kick with 10 minutes left.

Back came Milanda again and an accurate free-kick from Thomas Addison found Johnstone in the box and he stabbed the ball into the corner of the net.
Surely Milanda would hold on to their lead for the last few minutes. In fact, they should have increased it when Coyle broke on the left and surged into the box before somehow shooting wide from close range.

It was a costly miss because Ferguslie struck again when the defence parted to allow one of their subs to go through and knock the ball past Grant.

There was still time for McGowan to have a shot saved and for Williamson to knock a chance for his hat-trick over after good build-up play by Johnstone and Early but there was to be no more scoring.

MOTM: Williamson, who is considering whether or not to hang up his boots, showed he can still contribute with two goals, Murray was again an excellent provider of chances with his throws and dead ball deliveries and McGowan was the pick of the defenders. However, once again Milanda relied heavily on the work rate and back-tracking of Gerry Evans in midfield and he wins the man of the match award.