Kemnay FC Juve V Newtonhill BC

Kemnay FC Juve 5 Newtonhill BC 4

After a lot of rain in Kemnay in recent weeks, Bogbeth Park required an early morning inspection, however fortunately the pitches were passed playable, despite falling rain and slippery underfoot conditions.

Kemnay FC welcomed Newtonhill BC for this Development League fixture, with the home side missing Reuben from the squad. Nevertheless the other nine players were fit and ready to play.

Newtonhill kicked off the game but it was Kemnay who initially took control of proceedings, looking solid in defence thanks to Mason and Cameron and playing some nice football and putting the visitors defence under pressure from the off. On numerous occasions, Lewis and Matthew Robertson made good runs down the flanks and fizzed in some lovely crosses. Unfortunately no-one was able to get a telling touch to give the home side the lead. With Sebastian pulling the strings in midfield Kemnay seemed the more likely to open the scoring.

However the Newtonhill defence stood firm, their goalkeeper particularly showing some excellent handling in difficult conditions. Gradually Newtonhill worked their way into the game and they took the lead with an excellent quick counter attack. The Kemnay midfield were slow to get back and assist the defence leaving a 3 v 2 situation that resulted in the opening goal.

Unfortunately for the home side this proved to be the first of three goals scored by Newtonhill. Kemnay's midfield didn't learn from the first and conceded a second shortly thereafter in similar fashion thanks to a combination of good skilful play by the visitors and poor back-tracking by the home team. The visitors third goal came from a very uncharacteristic mistake by Mason allowing the Newtonhill striker to add a third. Mason would rectify this in great style later.

End of first period Kemnay FC 0 Newtonhill BC 3.

Indeed it could have been even worse for Kemnay. The Newtonhill striker did well to win a ball in the box and lobbed it over Archie, however Cameron was on hand to complete a brilliant goal line clearance, with Mason clearing the ball well to safety.

Newtonhill continued where they left off in the second period and added a fourth goal, however rather than the heads going down, Kemnay showed great character to claw their way back into the game. They responded to the coaches words of encouragement in the second twenty. Matthew Law typified the attitude of the whole team when he set off on a lung-bursting run across the pitch. When he was brought down for a free kick Lewis Beattie lined up the free kick. His first shot at goal was blocked but he followed up well and got a second shot on target. This second attempt was partially blocked too but it fell to Ethan a few yards out and he slammed the ball home to score Kemnay's first.

Kemnay seemed to draw confidence from this and after some good build up play down the right, Sebastian saw a shot well saved by the Newtonhill goalkeeper. He could only parry it into the path of Matthew Law and he drilled the ball low into the corner for Kemnay's second goal. 

Despite Kemnay looking perhaps the better of the two teams at this stage, Newtonhill were always dangerous on the counter attack. They continued to play some good football too and on a number of occasions they were able to free their striker on goal. However a combination of tenacious defending by Mason and Liam and excellent goalkeeping by Archie saw the visitors kept at bay.

Kemnay continued to press and following good work down the right they won a corner. Sebastian swung a delicious ball in from the right side and Matthew Law leapt highest to bullet a header past the keepers outstretched hand and into the top corner to cut the deficit to just one goal. Matthew could have completed his hat-trick shortly after but from about 15 yards he could only shoot over the bar.

End of the second period Kemnay FC 3 Newtonhill BC 4.

With the rain continuing to fall and underfoot conditions becoming more difficult, both teams continued to serve up some excellent football. The game was swinging from end to end with both defences showing great timing and good tackling to restrict their opponents to half chances. Kemnay applied the pressure and deservedly equalised midway through the final period. Following more good build up play, they won another corner on the right. The Newtonhill defence did well to clear initially, but as the ball broke at the edge of the box, Mason was in the right place to steer a shot low into the goalkeepers left hand corner to tie the game up at 4-4.

Kemnay had their tails up now and they went looking for the winner. They were certainly not having things all their own way however with Newtonhill continuing to pose a real threat to the home defence. Cameron and Mason defended well and when required Archie showed really secure handling in awful conditions.

Ethan did really well to collect the ball and take on the Newtonhill defender and when his run was obstructed it presented Kemnay with a chance from the free kick. Matthew Law struck the ball beautifully but it just went past the junction of post and bar. With time running out however, it was the home side who had the final say. Matthew Law collected the ball about 20 yards out and set off on a run that Lionel Messi would have been proud of - he showed excellent close control, cut inside one defender, beat another on the outside and planted a great low shot behind the goalkeeper to complete his hat-trick and to score Kemnay's winner.

This was a terrific game of football played in ultimately really difficult conditions by two very well matched teams. Great credit must go to both teams for serving up some terrific entertainment for the watching supporters. Despite muddy underfoot conditions, both Newtonhill BC and Kemnay tried to play passing football whenever they could and although Kemnay prevailed, this was a game that could have gone either way.

Kemnay FC Juve Player of the Match - Matthew Law