New Polo Park, NRJFA Playoff Semi Final Leg 1, 20/5/25
Me still 343, Wee Man still 206
Stoneywood Parkvale Football Club
Founded – 2016
Nickname – The Vale
Honours – None
With Islavale being confirmed to the playoffs on Saturday this was a new fixture and possibly the Junior game with most at stake tonight along with the other playoff at Denmore. Wee Man picked it over Hall Russell and the league games at Maud and Culter which suited me given the short distance from the door to Stoneywood. So to New Polo Park we headed for a bit of plane spotting for the second time this season. (We had been to watch the amateurs v Ellon Thistle previously).On a side note, is there any ground in Scotland where the ironbirds are so close? On the park I had a feeling Stoneywood were going to win this despite plying their trade at a lower level. They were looking to bounce back to the top flight immediately after relegation last season. Going by the first half you would think a promotion could be a high possibility as they took the game to the Keith side and camped out in the visitors half. They should have been in the lead early door but striker Kane was leaning back as he headed over the bar while unopposed at close range. That was the biggest chance before the home side did take the lead and what a hit it was. A defensive header landed 25 yards out and a Stoneywood Parkvale man stepped on to it to unleash a venomous howitzer which flew past Brindle into the top corner. So good was the hit it didnt even register with me who scored it as my eyes followed the ball. By the time I looked back the scorer was already mobbed by elated team mates. Superb goal. Ill also blame my hayfever which was causing havok with eyes which were itchy as fuck and streaming all game. The hosts had a couple of chances yet couldn’t extend their lead. But to be fair to Islavale’s centre half partnerships of Stevie Patterson and Ricky Henderson they were very good and throwing their bodies at and into everything.
HT 1 v 0
The home side were the better team in the early stages of the half and doubled their lead deservedly. A long throw found the head of Wilson who did well to glance a the ball across goal and into the far side of the net. A cracker of a headed goal. Stoneywood Parkvale were looking good for the win. The game then changed when Islavale were awarded a penalty. Stonewall it was as it was a bit of a scything tackle. The impressive Henderson stepped up giving Cummings in the home goal no chance. Game on. The home side were then dealt a a further blow when their captain Reid decided to put a spanner in the works. After being cautioned in the first half for a daft trip he was walking after recieving second booking after flying into a body check on an Islavale player. It was 100% a booking despite the SP captain shouting “he ran into me, am I supposed to make myself fucking invisible?”. That is not what happened at all and I think he knows it himself. His actions turned what would have been a soft collision into a heavy handed body check leaving the Islavale man poleaxed on the turf. Islavale were a completely different team and in the ascendancy and it was clear another goal was coming. It did via the bonce of Kieren Hayllar. Yes a good header off a cross from the left hand side but he seemed to be in far too much space to do so. Islavale went for it and it felt as if they would turn the game completely on its head. They really ought to have too. Hayllar went on to send a header over which he should have buried. Then fellow striker Sam Mair missed from six yards as he struck an effort well over the bar and out of the ground. Harder to do than hit the target. Then incredibly he recreated the exact same scenario with the same end product a minute later. I couldnt believe my eyes as another ball went closer to the Loganairs above in the sky than the target. The Stoneywood Parkvale committee were busy people tonight as they were retrieving balls from outside constantly. 15-20 maybe left the New Polo Park. Islavale couldnt get the third but surely from where they were at 50 minutes the Desmond was an acceptable result. For Stoneywood Parkvale, they will be surely be fuming they shot themselves in the foot causing unnecessary turbulence. This leaving the tie wide open. Who would be facing Deveronside in the final for a shotty at the Premier League? Lets see what the weekend says.
Entrance – Me £7, Wee Man £4
Attendance – 121 (Rough Head Count)
Pie – £6.50, Pie, Coffee, Juice, Sweetie
Pint – N/A
Score Predictions – Me 1 v 0, Wee Man 1 v 1
Season Score Predictions Total – Me 5 v 4 Wee Man
FITBAWBAG 