This fixture was played in conditions that made a compelling case for summer football…..a boggy pitch and a freezing wind!

 

Dylan Smith started the game in goals, up to his ankles in mud.  Dyce started brightly with a few attacks from Fraser Wyness down the left wing, and a driving run from Liam Strachan and through ball to Matty Dick, before Colony Park mounted their first attack which was cleared at the expense of a corner.  The corner was driven in low and hard through the hailstones, and in attempting to clear the ball, Bruce Anderson was unlucky to deflect the ball past Dylan and into the net.

 

Dyce were quick to respond to that setback, and turned the scoreline round with two goals inside a minute.  The first was delivered by Bradley Neish with a smart turn and crisp left foot shot into the bottom right corner, then Bruce picked up the ball in midfield and drove straight at the centre of the Colony Park defence before firing a firm shot into the net.

 

The remainder of the first 15-minute period was fairly even, with defenders Glenn Murison and Liam coping with the Colony Park attack, Glenn making one vital last ditch interception in particular to prevent a clear run in on goal for the forward.

 

End of First Period  2-1

 

Dyce started the next period with Matty in goal, Kieran O’Brien and Cameron Shore forming a new defensive pairing, and the strong wind at their backs.  Cameron released Fraser down the left wing on a couple of occasions before Dyce extended their lead – Glenn fed Dylan on the right and he fired the ball into the net.

 

Much of the game was taking place close to the Colony Park goals and with the Dyce defence pushed high up the pitch, Matty had to rush out to clear with his feet more than once to clear the danger.  From a Colony Park free-kick on the left Glenn deflected the ball over the bar with his head for a corner.  From the corner, Fraser broke the length of the field but his shot went into the side-netting.

 

From the next Colony Park corner, Dyce failed to clear the ball it was forced home from close range.  Dyce were pressing for the next goal but were again caught high up the pitch, which allowed the Colony Park striker a clear run in to beat Matty with a left foot shot.

 

End of Second Period  3-3

 

With Kieran in goals for the last period, Matty was now up front and on hand to pick up a clearance after a strong run and shot from Glenn.  He fired a dipping shot over the keeper and into the net to regain the lead for Dyce.  With the game opening up by this stage, there was more space and Dyce were able to construct a few passing moves but were unable to find the net.

 

The big No.4 for Colony Park had a strong run down the left including an outrageous step-over, but the Dyce defence held firm.  Breaking out from defence, the ball was played up to Matty, who held the ball up well before releasing Bradley who broke down the right channel to force the first in a succession of corners.

 

The last goal of the game came when Matty fed the ball into the centre for Bruce, who forced the ball home from close range.  Everyone was glad to hear the referee’s whistle a couple of minutes later.

 

Full-time  5-3

 

In difficult conditions, there was no chance to play passing football and it was one of those games where hard work and dirty knees were the order of the day.

 

Coach: Jake Petrie

 

Goals:

 

Bruce Anderson                        2

Bradley Neish                1

Dylan Smith                  1

Matty Dick                    1