Longside v Newmachar Utd

The pitch was in good condition considering all the wet weather the past 2 weeks and came out the traps on the front foot, controlling the possession and breaking at pace but couldn’t find the final ball to make our possession count.

The home keeper pulled off three cracking saves, two from Conor Watt with the first one as he cut in from the left, he made himself big and the shot hit off his chest and out for a corner. The next effort was a Conor Watt shot from the edge of the box. It took a couple of deflections and looked like it was spinning into the far corner but he managed to stretch out his leg and put it out for another corner.

Then Ryan Whelan had a shot from 18 yards which he tipped over the bar.

Although it was mostly us the home side did create a couple of chances of their own but nothing to trouble Simon.

It was looking like we were going to go into half time all square, however captain Ryan Whelan stopped that after a good move he struck a cross goal shot that nestled in the far corner to put us deservedly in front at the break.

HT 0-1

The home side came out for the second half with something to prove and put us under some pressure without really troubling Simon Mitchell in goal, although they were quicker and more determined than us to get the ball and get back into the game.

Midway through the second half we stretched our lead after Kyle Munro headed the ball into the path of Liam Mewse who beat the defender to the ball and as he played it past him he was wiped out in the box to give us a penalty.

Ryan Whelan stepped up and although the home keeper went the right way the shot was too hard to keep out.

The home side got themselves back into the game after a corner was headed back across our goal and the home forward headed it into the net.

This gave the home some belief and they put us under some more pressure but we were dangerous on the counter and so it proved when an angled pass into the left wing area was met by Tait Duthie, who had out sprinted the full back and he chipped the ball over the advancing keeper into the net.

We managed the game well after that and held onto the lead to secure another valuable 3 points against a sticky home side who never gave up.

FT 1-3

It was a big win and puts a bit of space between us and Longside who would’ve jumped us in the table, although they’ve played 4 games more. At this point we just need to keep winning games and stay close to the pack.

I felt we dominated much of the game and maybe could’ve scored before we did but we kept at it, and to score three at a tricky venue sets us up for a massive run of games.