ac milanda afc

HAVING drawn all previous matches against Andrew Watt, Milanda were delighted to get the better of them for the first time at Hamilton Palace.
The foundations for a handsome victory were laid in a fantastic first half during which Milanda played some stylish football, scored four goals and could easily have had more.
Not unexpectedly they took their foot off the gas a little in the second period but still managed to score a fifth goal before their opponents grabbed a consolation effort.

The warning signs were there for Andrew Watt inside the first few minutes when Martin Coyle, surely one of the finest players ever to grace the amateur game, burst through the middle and was thwarted by the alert home keeper.
It was 1-0 after 12 minutes. A man of Coyle’s talent must surely have been involved in some way but the main man was Martin Johnstone who broke on the right and took route one to goal. His shot across the keeper was heading for the far corner of the net but stuck in a puddle and Gerry Evans nicked the glory by forcing the ball over the line after a tussle with a defender.

Two minutes later came the second. Scott Preston was the provider with a long throw that the effervescent Coyle headed against the bar, leaving Ross Early a tap-in goal.
Andrew Watt couldn’t cope and Milanda scored a third in the 25th minute. A sustained spell of attack that included some tricky play on the left by Mark Russell ended with Early setting up Coyle for a goal he put over the line with his chest. Is there any part of his anatomy this goal machine of a man can’t use to bulge nets?

No Coyle goal is anything less than top class but Milanda’s fourth was a stunning finish even by his supremely high standards. Another long throw by Preston, this time from the left, wasn’t dealt with by the home defence and when the ball fell to Coyle at the back post he fairly lashed it into the roof of the net.
Milanda should have had a fifth before the break when Thomas Addison won a challenge against the Andrew Watt keeper, who had raced outside of his box in an attempt to clear. Somehow Adda wasted his good work by shooting wide of the unguarded goal.

If only he could finish like Coyle. If only everyone could finish like Coyle the world of football would be a better place.
The half-time team talk was all about completing the job and making sure Andrew Watt didn’t find a way back into the game.
They came out with all guns blazing after the restart but didn’t cause the Milanda defence many problems.
The points were made absolutely safe in the 65th minute when a superb long ball by Addison sent Johnstone clear and he cleverly evaded the onrushing keeper before firing the ball into the empty goal. Unbelievably, Coyle wasn’t involved, although he could probably claim a hand in it on the grounds that he is continually encouraging Adda.
With 10 minutes left, a bit of aggro in the box prior to an Andrew Watt corner saw Milanda lose concentration and the delivery was headed home from close range to make the final score 5-1.

A minor disappointment on a very good day for Milanda and the the fans, including Andy Wilson, went home happy.

MOM: Absolutely no failures on the day. Craig Fawns had one excellent save with his feet in the first half and his defenders, Dave O’Neill, Scott Preston and Davie Crawford provided good cover. Adda, Breezer, Ross Early, Gerry Evans and Mark Russell controlled the midfield and Mark Walker, Jim Binnie and Scott Grant kept up the good work when they went on. Up front, Martin Johnstone led the Andrew Watt defence a merry dance and was unlucky not to get more than one goal. Coyle did get more than one and takes the man of the match award for this and his all-round performance which was reminiscent of Diego Maradona at his best.

CALLING ALL FOOTBALL LOVERS

Martin Coyle will be giving a talk on great goals he has scored in the living room of his home every night this week and for several weeks to come. No need to book. Just turn up, listen and learn. A must for all genuine football fans. All welcome except Adda. Admission free. £15 to get out.