King George V Park, Mormond Cup, 29/7/25
Me still 352, Wee Man still 212
Methlick Football Club
Founded – A fact forgotten in time it seems.
Nickname – The Meth
Honours – NESFA League – 2009. NESFA League Two – 2024. Brucklay Cup – 2024. Ardallie Cup – 2024
I had a mare with fixtures today. First off tonight was supposed to be our yearly visit to Aberlour Villa, this to watch a game at one of the greatest venues in Scottish fitba. Turns out they havent played there all season despite the games being down as Vila Park on the website. A change of plan to stay local was initiated. The NESFA it was to be. Haven v Glenugie United was the plan but then Wee Man changed his mind to Mormond v Cuminestown United. Turns out neither of these were on the night as they were Fridays fixtures and not tonight’s . A poor error on my part.With the correct card in front of us we went for Methlick v St Combs. Fine and handy being all of an 11 minute drive from home. Fine by me, but to be added King George V Park is a cracking venue. A brilliant conditioned pitch on the banks of the Ythan surrounded by great views with a mini pitch adjacent for a magic kick about too. All this as the passing cattle wagons and tractors don’t let you forget how remote this wee Aberdeenshire town is. With the sun beating down it was perfectly set up for what we both thought would be comfortable night in the cup for league leaders Methlick.
Methlick may be league leaders but are not league champions yet (could still blow it but unlikely). Some players may be getting ahead of themselves though. Especially Greg Miazek when he was leaving the pitch after the warm ups. “Look at that team over there. The are not interested. They are fucking scared and know they are only here so they can get fucked up by the league champions”. That arrogant wee bit immediately made me drop the neutral stance in favour of the blacks of St Combs. Oh and how the visitors put a smile on my face. They destroyed Methlick without breaking much of a sweat and could have had hit double figures if not for some poor finishing and a couple of incorrect offsides called.
First thing of note tonight. Methlick’s keeper Will was number 5 and 1 was up front. I really don’t get what thats about,maybe I am too traditionalist. The latter kicked off and St Combs looked well up for this and looked dangerous from the off especially with Bicknell, Mutch, Duthie and Beedie going forward. I felt they could have had a penalty early doors when Kaiden Mutch skinned Methlick defender Reid on the by line leading to a clear clip as Mutch broke toward goal. I could guarantee this would have been given if it was anywhere else on the park but referee Derek Taylor didn’t even flinch at this clear infringement in the box.The Quities continued to get forward and one thing became apparent, Will in goal for the home side was looking dodgy, getting caught under crosses and continuously spilling balls. Bicknell should have put the visitors in the lead when a great move with Mutch saw him in acres of space inside the box but he sent his finish over the bar from 10 yards. He didn’t wait long until he saw the net rustle. Another move with Mutch saw Bicknell in a foot race with a defender, the St Combs number 8 stayed strong and stuck a low effort past Will who didn’t attempt to save it. Next up was Mutch himself who from six yards missed a sitter when he headed a cross over from close range. This another huge let off for Methlick. But like Bicknell earlier he didn’t wait long after his big miss to get on the scoresheet as almost immediately he couldn’t believe his luck when he found himself five yards out unmarked slotting home into the bottom corner. This goal summed up the home sides performance when it came to defending. Methlick’s first and only real chance of the half came in 42 minutes when Grant Taylor hit an effort wide from close range.
HT 0 v 2
Half time saw the utilization of the mini goals on the wee pitch for a crossbar challenge like pre game, but this turned into a game more like football tennis. Good craic it turned out to be. Especially when junior hit a rocket off the bar which rebounded off his face knocking him off his feet. I laughed until it hurt if i am being totally truthful. Methlick came out the changing rooms shouting and swearing and seeming fired up to turn this game game. If anything they came out worse. Every time St Combs went forward I thought they would score. Balls were getting in behind the defence with little effort and they were a shambles defensively. A third came and it was in catastrophic circumstances when a pass back to keeper Will from midfield was far to easy to read which Ewan Milne did and won the ball off the keepers toe leaving an empty goal to knock the ball into. Surely it was game over, maybe as a contest but St Combs were rampant and had larger ideas. As Methlick started using the old “where are you in the league” and “fuck off, you’re shite, yous aren’t winning the league” type shouts St Combs continued to go about their business and Methlick continued to make mistakes, the next was a poor clearance from Will which landed at the feet of Milne who sent it right back at him and into the bottom left corner. 0 v 4 and a good bit left of the 90. Could this become an obliteration? Yes. And there was not even a minute between goals four and five. Next up was goal of the game. A ball over the top beat all the Methlick back line finding Ethan Duthie who just swung his laces at the ball sending it smashing off the bar and into the top corner. A truly wonderful sweet hit of a ball from 18 yards. Five wasn’t enough though and St Combs grabbed another fine goal. Another pinpoint ball over the defence from Beedie found Mutch who took the ball down cut inside with not much resistance from the struggling defenders and curled a shot across goal into Will’s top left corner. This had now become a blitzkrieg, a highly unexpected one but a very fine and deserved result from the Quities who had played some cracking football throughout.
“Fucked up by the league champions” was it?
Entrance – Both Free
Attendance – 32
Pie – N/A
Pint – Didnt bother
Score Predictions – Me 4 v 0 , Wee Man 3 v 1
Season Score Prediction Totals – Me 0 v 0 Wee Man
FITBAWBAG 