Potterton, AAFA Division 1 East, 18/5/24
Me 308, Wee Man 172
Rattray’s XI Football Club
Founded – 1947
Nickname – Rats
Honours – AAFA Division 3 -1952/53. AAFA Division 2 -1953/54. AAFA Division 2 (East) 2015/16. Bowie Cup – 1990/91. Dickie Trophy – 2009/10. Stephen Shield – 2018/19.
Random Fact – The club are the longest serving club in the Aberdeenshire Amateur Football Association
The first of a double header of the AAFA at Potterton. With the extra added bonus of potentially seeing the crowning of a league winner if Tolbooth secured at least a draw. What a day for it, scorching hot and not a day to be indoors. “Can we go to a close game?” the little dude asked. Rattray’s or Glendale were the choices with him choosing the former. “Can we go out for lunch” which due to his choice of game took us a few miles from Potterton to the Mill of Mundurno a few miles down the road, this to one of his favourite muncheries. Result one for the kid. Then as we turned up for the game and early enough for a kick about there was a nearby basketball court/tennis court/five a side pitch (delete as applicable) and he loved it even asking if we could come back some time. Result two for him. What was not a result for him was the fact I got the correct score and took the lead for the season. The reason being Tolbooth ran out 3 v 1 winners to take Division 1 East
The game was pretty open early doors. The first twenty minutes or so were open with both teams creating openings. But the closest either side came was two corners the were heading directly in from the boot of Liam Grant. The first being punched off the line by Rats keeper Watson then the keeper had to push the next one off his line. In terms of open play Rattray’s had the biggest chance when Lachlan Taylor ran on to a through ball to smash a left footed effort wide from 18 yards. A strike across the goal was needed rather than trying to burst the ball with power. The league leaders started to stomp a bit of authority on the game creating numerous chances and it was only a matter of time before they scored. The goal came from poor marking. A corner from the right found an unmarked Sean Dickie who headed high into the net unattended. No offence to the Tolbooth man but he’s not the biggest and this goal was totally avoidable. Rattray’s went straight up the park from centre and almost equalised via what was indecipherable to whether it was a shot or cross. Wee Man and I had no idea but it was one thing is for sure, it was bloody close. Tolbooth keeper Bjerdegaard just looked as the ball flew across his goal. Goal scorer Dickie was unlucky not to grab a brace moments later when after seemingly controlling the ball on his own balls 18 yards out, he thundered an effort at goal and it rattled the post and clear to safety. Keeper Watson seemed to get a touch to it and if that was the case it was a top save. Watson then did well to save a free kick on to the bar. Tolbooth seemed to have a game plan of putting set pieces right on the keeper. But as the keeper was doing well to keep these out, I couldn’t help but think an open play goal was coming. Defender McGuire had to clear an effort off the line, a couple more saves were brought out of Watson and a few efforts flew high wide and handsome before the half time whistle. If anything the champions elect were wasteful if anything.
HT 0 v 1
After more banging shots at Wee Man in the court at HT were were immediately treated to a second goal. Greg Simpson struck a freekick from 25 yards right to left over the wall and into the bottom left corner. A decent strike which surely secured the title. If two goals didn’t kill off any Rattray’s hope of spoiling the party then a third did. A long ball over the top landed at the foot of Liam Paterson whose first touch was exquisite and sent his marker to the shops, his second was a short range ballistic missile which Watson didn’t even dive for. Game over. But it should have been many more as Tolbooth missed some solid chances. But the scoring didn’t finish at three for the game as the Rats pulled one back. Funnily when they were awarded a free kick 30 yards from goal I said to Wee Man “this is going to be a goal” he fumed “it better not be”. The ball flew into the box and was met beautifully by defender Derryn McGuire who thumped the ball in with his bonce. A great header but too late in the game. Wee Man took the huff as he knew I was away to take the lead in the seasons scores totals and headed back to the court to have a kick about. The scoring did stop there but the action did not as there was still a red card to come. This when a rapid break by Tolbooth saw their striker clipped by Rats goalscorer McGuire…..or was it? The defender saw his second yellow but there were varying shouts claiming wrong spy and it was in fact adjacent full back Hutchison who had committed the foul. However. The centre half walked and that was surely game over now. Tolbooth fired a couple of efforts wide and over with a Paterson effort like a cannon ball millimetres over and Rattray’s sub Mario Darian struck wide late on and that was that. The visiting players celebrated on the park as the Rattrays boys seemed to want to dismantle the nets etc as quick as possible and be gone. Congratulations to Tolbooth who are top flight bound for next season.
Entrance – Both Free
Attendance – 34
Pie – N/A
Pint – £4.30, Tennent’s, Mill of Mundurno
Score Predictions – Me 1 v 3, Wee Man 0 v 3
Season Score Prediction Totals – Me 2 v 1 Wee Man
FITBAWBAG 