Fosters Central Scottish AFL- Division 1A Arthurlie United AFC 2 Mill United AFC 1 1300 kick off @ Cowan

Park, Barrhead Saturday 29th March 2014

Mill United AFC Arthurlie United AFC

1. Chris TOBIN 2. David CARSON 3. Mitch TOBIN 4. Andrew MURRAY 5. Malcolm CAMPBELL 6. Alan INCH 7. Daniel ROBERTSON 8. Kevin BEATON 9. Riccardo SCALA 10. Martin MCATEER 11. Jordan YARDLEY 12. 13. N/A 14. Dillan MACDONALD 15. Paul DRAGSNES

1. Ronnie WALSH 2. David GIBSON 3. Steven HARVEY 4. Ryan WATT 5. Steven MCGINTY 6. Ross NIXON 7. Steven ROBERTSON 8. Gavin NAISMITH 9. Brian TURNER 10. Garry MCMILLAN 11. Allan DIACK 12. Lee MARTIN 14. Jamie PATTISON 15. Mathew STEVENSON 16. Martin MCLACHLAN

Shots Fouls for Corners for Offside

19 12 2 3

14

On Target conceded conceded Yellow cards

7 10 6 3

Goal times 65,80, 82, 93 Penalty 1 st 1 Half duration 45.18 2nd Half duration 49.20

Mill United AFC relied on their incredible team spirit yet again, to record a draw for the second week running in an enthralling match against Arthurlie United on Saturday. The game, played at Cowan Park, Barrhead, was an open contest right from the first whistle and both sets of players gave their all in a match that never had a dull moment. The opening ten minutes saw sharp passing from the two sides as the opposing midfields tried to dominate the other. At this stage though neither sides defences were letting anything through. However, after this initial period of stalemate someone at the side must have pressed the Action button as the remainder of the match was played in the same manner as next goals the winner with the teams throwing all they could at each other. It was Mill United who created the best opportunities in the first half. Riccardo Scala delivered an in swinging left foot corner onto the head of Jordan Yardley who sent the ball past the top right hand corner of the goal. Minutes later Scala threatened the Arthurlie goal. He was played down the right flank by Daniel Robertson and having cut inside, skipped past two defenders before rattling the right post with a terrific left foot curling effort from 20 yards. Arthurlie though, were not to be kept on the back foot for long. They carved out a chance with a quick counter attack which led to a shot a goal from 12 yards which was saved by Chris Tobin low to his right. In the last 15 minutes of the half Arthurlie were putting the away side under constant pressure. Steven Robertson and Gavin Naismith in the Arthurlie midfield were dropping deeper and were seeing a lot of the ball. The home side were also using the ball over the top to good effect and their forwards were causing problems for the Mill United back line when they were turned. It was this tactic that sent Arthurlie striker Garry McMillan through with only Tobin to beat. As he raced to the angle of the left side of the penalty box, he lobbed the ball over the advancing goalkeeper who could only watch as the ball slid wide of his right post. Arthurlie finished the half with a flurry of half chances but the Mill United rear guard stood firm as the half ended 0 0.

Mill United manager Brian Murphy obviously got his half time pep talk spot on as it was a different Mill that started the second half. And I mean literally from the start! On the referees whistle, Scala and Martin McAteer kicked off and had barely moved the ball from the centre spot when team captain Andrew Murray strode forward shooting from the half way line and sending the ball goal wards. Everyone watched in disbelief as the ball flew over the head of Ronnie Walsh in the Arthurlie goal, only to see the ball come back off the crossbar. It was with doubt the highlight of the match, and thats saying something with

what was still to come. Mill Uniteds tails were now up and great play down the left from Yardley saw him lay the ball to McAteer, who from 18 yards drew out a fine save from Walsh. Arthurlie then responded minutes later when a long range effort rebounded off the woodwork for the third time in the match. Mill United then made an early second half change with Dillan MacDonald replacing Mitch Tobin. Robertson moved to left back, Kevin Beaton pushed out to right midfield and MacDonald joined Murray in the centre of the park. Mill United were now looking the more dominant of the sides but this was to change in 65 minutes when Martin McLachlan got on the ball 20 yards from goal on the left. He fired in a low shot towards goal which caused Chris Tobin dive low to his right, but the ball managed to sneak past him into the net. 1 0 Arthurlie. Mill United didnt let their heads go down and almost equalised immediately when Yardleys 10 yard header was saved by Walsh. Moments later McAteer showed incredible persistence chasing a lost cause into the corner. He then dispossessed an Arthurlie defender before crossing for Scala whose effort at goal went over the bar. Despite the Mill United response, Arthurlie doubled their lead in the 80th minute. Mill United were caught with the long ball over the top which left Allan Diack racing through against Tobin. With Tobin trying to close down any strike on goal, Diack slipped the ball low underneath him and into the empty net to make it 2 0. Arthurlie would have been excused for thinking the points were in the bag but what took place was an astonishing late comeback. With eight minutes of the 90 left, Mill United produced the move of the match. Murray picked the ball up in the middle of the park before passing to Scala wide on the left. Scala drove down the touchline before playing a smart ball inside to McAteer on the 18 yard line. He then played a dangerous ball, low across the six yard line to the back post where Kevin Beaton timed his run to perfection, before placing the ball into Walshs bottom right corner and scoring for the second consecutive week. The home side responded with McLachlan drilling a shot off the bar from outside the box as they tried to consolidate their lead. But, as the game entered the third minute of stoppage time, Mill United were given a lifeline when Yardley was pushed in the back and went to ground in the Arthurlie penalty box. The referee pointed to the spot without hesitation and McAteer was handed the chance to draw his side level. He then calmly beat Walsh with a right foot drive which deservedly brought Mill United level. The spirit of Mill Uniteds performance was summed up in the dying seconds when right back David Carson bravely stuck his head in the path of an Arthurlie boot to clear the ball from a danger. This selfless act was the last moment of a hugely entertaining game which was a great advert for the Fosters Central league. There are nine league positions separating these two sides however, after this match you would have had great difficulty in determining who was top of the league.