Saturday 26th March 2022 St Machar S1 vs Westhill S1 Match Report

Report on St Machar Academy First Year v Westhill Academy First Year, CNR International League – Saturday 26th March 2022, by Walter Craig

Westhill Victory Over A Battling St Machar Guarantees At Least A Play Off Spot

St Machar Academy First Year
Isaac Volpi, Cole Simpson, Matthew Campbell, Archie Morris, Kenzie Innes, Max Wetherly, Tyler Gordon, Tyler Dixon, Cohen Leiper, Liam Green and Jamie Walosek. Subs: Cameron Reid, Nathan McIntyre, Lucas Bergeron, Wicktor Mischuda and Dean Roney.

Westhill Academy First Year
Joe Huntington, Owen Forbes, Ben McLaren, Alex Ferrier, Robbie Mitchell, Samuel Dennis, Matthew Rangel, Calum Bell, Keir Robson, Callum Cowie and Matthew Grassick. Subs: Gerald Ekiyor, Javi Da Piconne, Hussein Hassan and Seif Fahmy Mahmoud.

Referee A. Senior

A storming win at Harlaw on Thursday, where their midfield dominated proceedings, coupled with illness causing the Bucksburn game to be postponed, left Westhill sitting joint top of the standings and needing a win to guarantee them at least a playoff with Bucksburn in the Under 13 league A.

St. Machar’s results have been mixed so far but they are capable of making things difficult for any team on their day, and it is thought that this is their strongest line up so far this season.

The recent spell of fine weather continued as St Machar kicked off in positive fashion with Jamie Walosek nearly cutting through the visiting defence in the opening seconds.

Westhill retaliated quickly and a twenty five yard free kick from Calum Bell went narrowly wide.

A chance for the home side in six minutes. Walosek picked up the ball in midfield and sent Tyler Dixon scurrying down the right before sending in a drive which Joe Huntington did well to parry.

Westhill broke down to the other end and a good move involving Matthew Grassick, Bell and Matthew Rangel saw the last named’s shot bring out a good save from Isaac Volpi.

Westhill were starting to dominate proceedings and took the lead in the tenth minute. Grassick gathered a cross from the left just inside the box and sent a strong drive goalwards. Volpi managed to get an upstretched hand to it but could not stop it hitting the roof of the net.

It looked like the homesters would get a quick equaliser when Dixon sent Walosek clear down the middle but he was crowded out as he was in the process of shooting.

The St Machar defence was able to prevent Grassick having a shot when he had a clear sight of goal in twenty two minutes, but Westhill were creating chances now and sixty seconds later Bell was unlucky to see his left foot shot from a left wing cross fly inches wide of the keeper’s upright.

A great double save by Volpi kept the lead down to one. He brought off a fine parry from a fierce drive from the edge of the box, was up to knock away the rebound before stopping a good try by Grassick who was sent clear again, seconds later.

On the whistle Huntington had to race out of his box to clear a long ball from the St Machar defence. The ball found Grassick who managed to strike the post with his shot before it ended up behind.

The goal kick was mishit to the striker but this time the danger was cleared. The whistle for the interval saw Westhill on their way to achieving the win they were looking for but would have felt that the lead could and should have been greater.

Half Time: St. Machar Academy First Year 0 - 1 Westhill Academy First Year

It was clear that St Machar were looking for an equaliser and nearly got one in the second minute. Bell ran down the right leaving a number of defenders in his wake before crossing the ball to the back post. It appeared to fall perfectly for substitute Hussein Hassan but he couldn’t force the ball past Volpi.

At the other end another terrific Dixon run on the right saw him lose out to Huntington before the punt up field saw Grassick with a clear run on goal but the keeper was able to parry the shot with the striker not quite able to collect the rebound.

What a chance for St Machar to equalise midway through the half. Walosek was alert when Huntington dropped the ball after a challenge. It seemed like he must score but somehow the ball went past the post.

Westhill doubled their advantage in eighteen minutes. A cross from the right came to Hassan lurking at the far post. He turned a defender outside in before sending a low eight yard drive under the keeper and into the net.

It was a long way back for St Machar now, and multiple substitutions preceded a stramash in the home box before the ball was eventually cleared for an unproductive throw in.

A third Westhill goal with five minutes left to play finished the game as a contest. A lobbed cross from the left went over Volpi’s hands and reached Seif Fahmy Mahmoud standing all on his own at the far post. The midfielder gleefully tapped the ball over the line.

Westhill finished the game on the attack but Volpi kept out another strong shot at the expense of a corner.

The final whistle went seconds later and they were worthy winners and now sit table leaders with thirteen points. St Machar for their part will rue the chances they were not able to convert, as they were certainly deserving to have their name on the scoresheet. It's now up to Bucksburn to do their bit when they meet Hazlehead on Thursday to join Westhill at the top of the section.

Final Score: St. Machar Academy First Year 0 - 3 Westhill Academy First Year