Postal ALC Vs Halliburton

First half action
A vast improvement on Saturdays showing would be required this evening when Halli travelled along the short distance to Kingswells, where Postal play their home games. This is always a horror show of a pitch, but tonight even by it’s exceptionally low standards, this was a new low. It is doubtful if Aintree was in this state after Saturdays Grand National, quite simply shocking
With only 5 games left Halliburton have to go in search of 3 points from every game. The truth of the matter is, only Kemnay have really looked a better side in one meeting than Halli throughout this league campaign, but a complete drought of goals has cost Halli dear, that is for sure. 15 players were available when Sct Dawson and Brown called in as available near to KO 4-4-2 was retained with Sct Marlow in goal, Bremner, Duncan, Dundee and Flint in the back 4. R.McChesney, Low, Paterson and Grant in midfield. Barclay partnered by C.McChesney up top. In reserve, Martin, Anderson, Sct Dawson and Brown. Pre match the boys had been almost lectured in the need to take charge, we had won on Saturday, but the lack of buzz, the lack of leaders was very apparent, and each player was asked tonight to show that they are capable of this. Straight from KO Barclay showed that he was more than up for it as he blasted after a through ball, forcing the keeper into a fluffed clearance straight to C.McChesney, who thanks to the craters on the park, could not get it under control. In 3 a brilliant ball from Low released C.McChesney and his nice early cross, was just that bit over cooked. Halli had stormed out of the blocks and in 6, Barclay raced down the left to force a save out of the keeper. In 7 R.McChesney sent in a ball, which was cleared for a corner. Bremner delivered and Barclay met it, but a good challenge from a Postie defended the chance. Postal finally got up the park and won a corner which was blasted right across the park and out of play, before normal service resumed and Halli attacked once more. R.McChesney took it up the right, found Barclay who saw the keeper turn his shot round the post. From the corner Barclay got a good head on it but straight towards the keeper. A long ball forward saw Postal offside, but Mr Mitchell, missed it as the attack fizzled out with the ball being sent high over the top. Then in 15 Sct Marlow’s first action when he got down to push a shot out with the rebound being slammed over the fence. Bremner had his biggest fan Greg Anderson, giddy on the side with a sweetly won header before Barclay and his counter part both went down due to a clash of heads. Halli’s Flint turned his man perfectly to play Grant up the left, he tried to run it up the left, but running with the ball on Aintree is a definite no go. Halli came agonisingly close on the half hour, great play, Barclay nod to Grant, Grant into C.McChesney, neat lay back to Barclay who smashed a shot which grazed the post. Halli were looking likely to score every time they attacked and yet another chance in 32, Barclay again after he powered into a 50/50 with the keeper, the ball spun out right, R.McChesney played it back in but Barclay could only fire it high up into the night sky., a wee penalty claim for Halli in 35 when C.McChesney appeared to have his shirt tugged, but the ref waved it away. How Halli were not in front was anyone’s guess, but in 38 Duncan had to show his class providing great cover across to the side halting a promising Postal surge, before a throw in for Postal was met and fired in but Bremner was there to block it away. Then right on the break an absolute must score chance for Halli when C.McChesney did well to play in Barclay who’s speed broke the attempted offside trap, he was clean through on goal but totally shit himself and simply caressed a pass, straight back to the accepting goalkeeper H.T.0-0

Second half action
Full credit to Halliburton, they had gone out on an unplayable pitch and produced the goods, the only missing ingredients of course being the most important one, GOALS and this failure always means the door has been left open. The same again attitude was asked for, but it was Postal that started the strongest with Halli’s right side struggling after changing to what was the worst part of the pitch. A message was received by the Halli defence in 46 when Postal far too easily made ground down the left, moved inside and then only a scrambled clearance by Halli had cleared the danger. 1 minute later and Halli simply backed off again this time the ball fell to an unmarked player who shot home from close range 1-0. Halli still had not learned and R.McChesney and Bremner were embarrassingly beaten again on the flank, this time the attack came to nothing. Halli slowly came back into it and won a F/K in 55. Bremner curled in a great ball and a last gasp header from Postal only just managed to clear. In 58 an almost identical free kick but this time Dundee rose to power a header in forcing a decent save off the keeper. In 60 R.McChesney tided up very well inside his own box, then was tripped as he took the ball up the park. In 64 Martin was sent on in place of R.McChesney and in 67 Halli produced a good move from a throw. Bremner into Low, through to Barclay, back to Grant, who cut inside before being smothered out by 3 defenders. In 68 mins Postals number 3 ran confidently onto a lose ball looking to score, instead, he sliced it so wide it went out for a throw in on the far side of the park! With 15 left Grant was pushed up front with Barclay, Brown coming on for C.McChesney. The visitors won a throw on the right, but Barclays head on was cleared by Postal, As Halli pressed for the leveller they so deserved, they were caught short, but a quite magnificent challenge from Bremner stopped an attacker in his tracks inside the Halli box, before Sct Marlow, comfortably turned a header over the bar. F.T.1-0

Summary
3 points dropped with so many chances to score in the first half. Halli should have had the game to bed by Half Time but instead left the door ajar before opening it fully in the 47th minute. On a plus at least we don’t have to play on this pitch again soon !!