AHSFP  0   v  Milton Amateurs (Bannockburn) 4         Friockheim Park, Friockheim   Saturday 5th December 2009 - Scottish Cup 4th Round
 
   The FPs  were under no illusions of the task they faced on Saturday past, as Milton have an excellent pedigree and as well as past finalists in the national amateur cup, have played in the semi-finals an incredible six times. Milton did not disappoint as they produced an excellent display of football for ninety minutes. The FPs were on the back foot straight from the kick off, and whilst some of the FPs were slightly in awe of their opponents initially, the FPs players dug in and gave a fine defensive display in the first half. The FPs keeper Saunderson was in brilliant form and he had five magnificent saves in the first half, the pick of them an outstanding parry over the bar from Miltons centre forward, who like the rest of his team mates, had skill and pace in abundance. The FPs were under the cosh continually as Milton closed down any FPs possession quickly , and FPs wingers Sharp and Ferrier were trying their best to block out Miltons attacking full backs. The Gall cousins had little opportunity up front and Matty Gall had  a free kick which just zipped past the Milton post but they were both in defensive duties as Milton piled on the pressure. It was testament to the FPs endeavour  that they managed to prevent the visitors from scoring in a firsr half that was played exclusively within the FPs half
     
half time - AHSFP 0  v   Milton Amateurs 0  
 
     The second half was a re-run of the first half, with a combination of stout defending and some profligate shooting from Milton, the FPs managed to keep the score at 0-0 for an hour. The goal eventually came from  a ball chipped into the back post which was headed home much to the relief of the visiting support. The FPs regrouped but Milton's pressure was relentless and they soon increased the lead to 2-0 after some fine build up play. Manager Smith then substitute Humphreys for Lees as he tried to put the emphasis on attack, and the best chance fell to Ferrier who over ran the ball as he closed in on the Milton goal. The visitors standards never slipped and their constant pressure paid off as they scored another two quick goals to kill any glimmer of hope the FPs may have had. With twenty minutes remaining Cowan replaced McLaren but it was one way traffic as the FPs tried their best to prevent any further goals. Youngster Wilson picked up an injury and manager Smith took to the field. The FPs battled on and in the dying minutes of the game Saunderson came racing out to meet the Milton attacker who was felled on the edge of the FPs penalty area. The referee red carded the FPs custodian despite protests from the visitors who could sense the injustice and Matty Gall took the goalkeeper jersey as the game wound down.

full time - AHSFP 0 v Milton Amateurs 4

The match ball was sponsored by Ian Cameron.
     
       Mitlon are easily the best team the FPs have played for many years, and Milton deserve a lot of credit for their attitude, fitness, skill and behaviour on and off the park and are a fine role model for any amateur team. The FPs gave their all but were beaten fair and square by a better Milton team, who look certain to be heading to the latter stages on the Scottish Amateur cup again. The FPs would also like to thank Arbroath amateurs who supplied the water bottles, after a mix up in the FPs camp prior to the game.

 
Team: Saunderson, Wilson, Fenwick, Riddell, Humphreys, Sharp, K.Dall, Ferrier, Mclaren, Michael Gall, Matty Gall subs : Lees, Cowan, D.Smith



 

THE 2^ND TEAM HAD YET ANOTHER AWAY GAME IN THE LEAGUE WITH MORGAN THIS WEEKS HOSTS ON A MUDDY MONYMUSK PITCH WHICH THE REF ONLY JUST DEEMED PLAYABLE. WITH THE CLUB STRUGGLING FOR PLAYERS DUE TO WORK COMMITMENTS & NUMEROUS INJURIES,  VETERANS LAWSON & CARGILL MADE A WELCOME RETURN FROM INJURY TO TAKE THEIR PLACES ON THE BENCH. WITH NO RECOGNISED KEEPER AVAILABLE IT WAS STRIKER WATSON WHO VOLUNTEERED TO DON THE GLOVES. BOTH TEAMS STRUGGLED TO GET GOING DUE TO THE CONDITIONS BUT BOTH CARVED OUT GOOD CHANCES TO SCORE WHICH WERE ALL WASTED. THE HOME TEAM OPENED THE SCORING WHEN A GOOD CROSS INTO THE BOX FOUND UN UNMARKED STRIKER AT THE BACK POST WHO MADE NO MISTAKE WITH A FREE HEADER. THE LEAD WAS SOON DOUBLED WHEN THE RIGHT WINGER SKINNED THE FULL BACK TO WHIP IN ANOTHER GOOD CROSS WHICH WENT STRAIGHT INTO THE GOAL OFF THE FAR POST WITH STAND IN KEEPER WATSON HELPLESS AGAIN. FP’S HAD 3 CLEAR CHANCES BEFORE HALF TIME TO GET BACK INTO THE GAME BUT POOR FINISHING LET THEM DOWN ON EACH OCCASION.

HALF TIME :- MORGAN ‘A’  2-0  A.H.S.F.P.’s ‘A’

THE FP’S STARTED THE 2^ND HALF POORLY WITH THE HOSTS PUSHING HARD FOR THE 3^RD GOAL WHICH WOULD KILL THE GAME. MORGAN CAME CLOSE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS HITTING A POST & STAND IN KEEPER WATSON PRODUCING SEVERAL EXCELLENT SAVES TO KEEP HIS TEAM IN THE MATCH. FP’S STARTED TO GET MORE OF A FOOT HOLD IN THE GAME BUT MORE WASTEFUL CHANCES MEANT THAT WITH 20MIN LEFT & NOTHING TO LOSE THE FP’S MADE A DOUBLE SUBSTITUTION WITH HORAN & THE INJURED KYDD COMING OFF FOR OLD HEADS LAWSON & CARGILL. FP’S THEN CHANGED TO A MORE ATTACKING 3-5-2 FORMATION & IMMEDIATELY STARTED TO PRESS THE HOME TEAM BACK LOOKING FOR THE GOAL THAT COULD SPARK A COME BACK. THEY SHOULD HAVE GOT A GOAL WHEN A GOOD PASSING MOVE RESULTED IN LYONS PUTTING CARGILL THROUGH ON GOAL TO FIRE PAST THE KEEPER ONLY FOR THE REF TO WRONGLY RULE IT OFFSIDE. THE FP’S WERE NOT TO BE DENIED A GOAL HOWEVER & WITH 5MIN TO GO GOT THE GOAL THEIR PLAY DESERVED WHEN HAY MADE NO MISTAKE WITH A GREAT HEADER FROM A BUIK CORNER. FP’S CONTINUED TO PRESS FOR THE EQUALISER & HEAPED ON THE PRESSURE WITH A SERIES OF CORNERS & LONG THROW IN’S KEEPING THE HOME TEAM PENNED INTO THEIR BOX TRYING TO HOLD ONTO THE WIN. THEN DEEP INTO INJURY TIME THE FP’S PRESSURE FINALLY PAID OFF WHEN ANOTHER LONG THROW FROM LEONARD WAS MET BY A TOWERING HEADER FROM HAY WHICH WAS PUNCHED OVER THE BAR BY A DEFENDER WHICH THE REFEREE SPOTTED & POINTED TO THE SPOT & SHOWED THE DEFENDER A RED CARD. WITH SURELY THE LAST KICK OF THE MATCH IT WAS VETERAN CARGILL WHO STEPPED UP TO COOLLY SLOT HOME THE PENALTY & SEAL A WELL DESERVED POINT FOR THE VISITORS.

Full time - Morgan Academy 'A'  2   v  AHSFP ' A'   2

TEAM : -          WATSON, BUICK, HAY, RIDDLE, HORAN, KYDD, RICHARDSON,LYONS, REID, MCKENZIE, LEONARD subs :- Lawson, Cargill


Fixtures for Saturday 12th December 2009

Midlands Division One

AHSFP  v   Newport     1.30 KO Hercules Den

Alliance League

AHSFP  'A'   v Kelso 'A'    1.30 KO Hercules Den

All players meet at the Saltire Leisure Centre at 12:00, please note earlier KO