Deer Park (Monymusk, as game switched), AAFA Division 2 East, 20/5/23
Me 277, Wee Man 149
Bon Accord City Football Club
Founded – 2021
Nickname – City
Honours – None
Random Fact – The club are a continuation of a former Bon Accord City who folded in 2018, a club who were Chattan Rovers from the 70s until 2007
As far as plans were today didn’t go exactly the way i was hoping. A lot of stuff going is gong on in life just now. But the Wee Man is there by my side to keep me going. With the night dedicated to watching Ellon Thistle in the Dickie Trophy final at Rothienorman a game during the day was not on the cards. Then things changed and we planned on Insch v Kincorth to allow us good time to get home for the bus to Rothie. Then early on Saturday, Bon Accord City posted that their home game v Monymusk had to move to the shadow of Bennachie as there were staffing issues at Balgownie(not the first time this month). An anomaly where it allowed us to see the away team at home.Perfect for us as Wee Man had the Musk on his list to visit.
Prior to the game we had some inane bullshit to take care of but in terms of things to see we stopped at the Place of Origin in Kemnay, a wee walk up a hill to be faced with Bennachie looking back from one direction, then the Kemnay quarry from another. A great view to be honest. I had been here before with the lovely lady but it was good to see Wee Man’s face. Then it was on to the ‘musk. With half an hour to kick off, we thought a beer and a juice was worthwhile, but as it turns out the Grant Arms is not a pub now. It is a scones and tea place with no booze. So back to the car we went to listen to the Dons on the radio.
Then we hit Deer Park. Some people don’t get my love for the non league. People think football should be a tribal experience, packed to the rafters with atmosphere. Incredibly , only a few years ago I was one of them. Now I am almost against that and places like Deer Park are why my mind works in this way now. What a superb setting for fitba. A quaint and just genuinely excellent place for a game deep in the Aberdeenshire wilderness. Surrounded by trees as if the woodland was grown around the pitch and the river Don flowing past not too far away I love it. Another great thing is it is also full of people not shy of a yap. Something I am a huge fan of. Then the tea stall, run by the managers wife which was a welcome bonus. It’s really is special wee ground. It is a shame in my playing days I didn’t appreciate it as much as I do now.
Then game was interesting, this once we got acclimatised to the greenhouse heat. We were treated to a surprise scudding in short. Monymusk were up for this from the get go and put the league leaders to the sword in the first half. They were hungrier for the second ball and showed they had something to play for despite the shouts of Bon Accord which suggested it was a dead rubber for the Musk.The “home” side then took the lead when a short defensive header was met perfectly by Craig Taylor who thumped home a short defensive header. Seconds later the Bon Accord goal was almost snapped when the Musk 10 (never caught his name) rifled a thirty yarder off the bar. It was all Monymusk pressure but in the rare occasion City broke Scott MacGregor slashed an effort wide of Ackroyd’s goal.But the Musk continued to make their mark and nabbed a second before the half was out and it came in almost identical fashion when Michael Fyfe smashed home a poor clearance into the bottom corner. Before the half was done City had a big chance when Kaarim was clear in the box but directed it wide.
HT 0 v 2
The second half started with a 50 yard effort from City man Lewis Ross. Ackroyd was well beaten but he saw the ball head wide. But the Musk were still in for the kill and grabbed a third. What a goal it was too. Taylor was pushed wide by Ferguson but with slight of foot he lifted the ball into the far corner. A superb finish. The the league leaders upped their game and pinned Monymusk back and got a reward when Johnston was in a huge amount of space then layed off Grant to tap in. With 15 minutes to go it was game on. Bon Accord continued to press and gave it a good go but they ran out of time. The elusive point to win the league is still ……..eh…..elusive. Bon Accord are doing a Napoli
Entrance -Free
Attendance -39 +a bear
Pie – £2.50, Coffee, juice, biscuit
Pint – Found out Monymusk doesnt have a pub now.
Score Predictions– Me 2 v 2, Wee Man 3 v 0
Season Score Predictions Total – Me 2 v 4 Wee Man
FITBAWBAG 