Kintore United V Kemnay FC

KINTORE UNITED   3     KEMNAY FC 97   2

There can’t be many pitches as narrow as this one, with such an overall slope and with a 4-foot drop between one of the goals and the 6-yard line - perhaps local knowledge played a part in the result.

It was 2^nd (KFC 97) versus 3^rd and both teams were keen to win. The game started slowly with Kemnay playing down the slope. It wasn’t until 10 minutes were played that Kintore came close from a corner and when the ball bounced invitingly to one of their strikers, he blasted it high over the bar. A couple of minutes later, Adam put Ian through on goal but the keeper managed to save low to his right.

After 20 minutes, KFC 97 won a direct free kick about 25 yards out and hopes were high that Connor Ross might repeat his goal of the previous week. Unfortunately, his shot hit the wall and was cleared. Two minutes later, Fraser hit the bar with a rasping shot and Jack was just unable to force the ball over the line. It was now sustained pressure from Kemnay and the goal came in 23 minutes after good work from Jack on the right. He pushed the ball across goal and Fraser was there to knock it in to the left hand corner of the empty net.

Kintore came more into the game and were rewarded in 30 minutes when a ball was played over the KFC defence and their number 11 was able to hit the ball high into the net from close range, giving the keeper no chance.

Half Time: Kintore Utd    1    Kemnay FC 97    1

After what seemed like an eternity and with the referee away to find them, Kintore eventually emerged from their dressing room. It was Kemnay who came out of the blocks the quickest and when Kintore failed to clear a ball that bobbled around the 6-yard box, Fraser was there to make it 2-1.

A minute later, a Kintore shot was saved by Alex who had been asked to play in goals only minutes before the game due to a late call-off. It wasn’t until 55 minutes had been played that the next real chance arose and fortunately for Kemnay, the ball flashed across their goal with no takers. Kintore were now looking the more dangerous and were perhaps using the slope to their advantage. After 60 minutes, a low Kintore shot from the right squirmed under Alex’s body and into the net to make it 2-2.

After 65 minutes, Alex saved fantastically from a direct free-kick but the winning goal came a minute later. After some “heady-football” in the Kemnay box, the ball was eventually forced into the net. There just wasn’t enough time for Kemnay to equalise and a draw would probably have been a fairer reflection of the play.

The heads were down at the end but this was always going to be a tough game but hopefully Kemnay can gain revenge in the home fixture.