Vital Win at Mill Inn
AC Mill Inn 1-2 Old Aberdonians
Premier Division on Wednesday 12th May at Mineralwell Park, Stonehaven
Following a run of seven consecutive defeats that had seen the Abos plummet down the league table and into the relegation places they travelled to Stonehaven for a crucial 6 pointer against AC Mill Inn. A week’s break had allowed the return of defenders of Craig, Edwards and Good who looked to shore up a defence that had shipped 19 goals in 4 games.
It was Mill Inn who started the brighter with the Abos pinned back in their own half. A few dangerous crosses were cleared and gradually the away team were able to attack themselves. On 16 minutes Craig played a clever ball down the right channel for Cameron who had timed his run perfectly to stay onside. The Abos top scorer drove to the bye line before picking out Fraser who placed the ball low past the keeper.
The goal lifted the Abos who began to win the 50-50 balls and show a bit of belief. All over the park the workrate was evident with Murison showing he was back to full fitness with a tireless amount of running. Fraser pounced onto a defensive error but his square ball was intercepted with Cameron ready to score while shortly after it was again Fraser in the action seeing his header tipped wide from Wilson’s free kick. At the other end Clark was called into action on a couple of occasions, firstly tipping a free kick wide that bounced awkwardly and then getting a crucial finger tip onto a ferocious 20 yard volley that smacked off the crossbar.
Not to be outdone the home keeper then made a wonder save of his own. After Fraser had intercepted a short back pass he squared it for Cameron who looked certain to score only for the keeper to throw himself in front of the striker and make a block.
Just before half time the game exploded thanks to a controversial refereeing decision. A long ball over the Abos defence saw left back Pocock try to hook it clear, only to miscue it towards his own goal from 25 yards. The ball bounced in the box where Clark claimed it under pressure only for the referee to judge it as a back pass. Thankfully the 10 man Abos wall stayed strong and kept their goal in tack.
Half-time: 0-1
The next goal was always going to be crucial but the Abos defence were generally well organised with Good sweeping up at the back. When called upon Clark again stood firm, parrying a shot wide after the striker had hooked a loose ball goalwards.
Cameron then showed excellent strength and skill to burst along the bye line and find Fraser with a cut back but his shot was brilliantly tipped wide as it looked to be going in at the near post. Munro replaced Fraser after a hard shift while Purdon came on for Murison who had taken a couple of knocks in a hard fought battle with his opposite man.
A rare mistake by the Abos defence saw the No 9 burst through on goal and look certain to score but again Clark made is large frame unbeatable. Wilson had a chance to double the lead when he pounced on a loose ball 12 yards out but hit his shot was to close to the keeper before finally a second goal in the match arrived.
It came from a familiar Abos source, the long throw, but the celebrations that followed showed they didn’t care how the goal came about. It was Pocock’s long throw from the left which dropped inside the 6 yard box and there was Purdon, unfortunate not to be starting the game, who knocked it in.
With 15 minutes left the Mill Inn players were getting on each other’s backs and it seemed the Abos would see the game out with ease. However one sloppy bit of defending as Craig and Good got in a muddle allowed the striker to knock the ball past the stranded Clark. The last 5 minutes were frantic and a chance to seal it came when Cameron played in Roper whose shot seemed certain to find the net only for the keeper to again produce a finger tip save. Not long after, as Roper kept the ball in the corner, the final whistle blew and the sense of relief in the Abos squad was there to see.
Full Time: 1-2
Team: G. Clark, D. Craig, F. Pocock, K. Good, G. Edwards, G. Ashton, S. Murison (B. Purdon), M. Roper, A. Cameron, S. Fraser (B. Munro), E. Wilson.
Unused Subs: A. Barr, M. Johnston, A. Russell
Goals (Assists): Fraser (Cameron), Purdon (Pocock)
Man of the Match: G. Clark
Management Speak
After the horrendous run of results of late the relief in getting the 3 crucial points was huge. The battling performance was exactly what was required and every single player stepped up to the mark. Defensively it was a massive boost having Edwards, Good and Craig back to join Pocock in a back 4 that has barely managed to play together all season and when they were breached Clark showed how good a keeper he is. With 5 games to play we hope to take the confidence from the win and push further up the table to safety.
