Newmachar United have moved into second place in the U19s ADJFA League B after beating Middlefield Wasps at Aulton. The two teams started the day being separated by only one point but two goals in the first three minutes propelled Newmachar towards a win.

Newmachar kicked off the first half at a blistering pace as they scored their first goal with only 19 seconds on the clock. Leon Williams latched onto a pass on the left wing and skilfully dribbled past two defenders. He then played a simple pass to set up Jordan Baillie who placed the ball past the keeper and into the right hand corner of the net.

Only minutes later, the home side doubled their advantage with another goal. A deflected pass was controlled in the box by Newmachar forward Connor Duncan. Staying composed, he kept his shot hard and low towards the far post where Middlefield keeper Lewis Mitchell could not reach.

The continued pressure from Newmachar meant the Middlefield defence had to stay on their toes. Elliot Cheyne forced a good save from Mitchell when his sliding effort at the back post was met with fantastic reflexes from the keeper in order to clear the danger.

As the half continued, Middlefield began to find their feet and create chances of their own. Fantastic control from Brian Mair in the opposition box allowed him to set up Alex Cheyne. The Middlefield forward took a powerful shot but it was too close to keeper Caleb Wilson who matched it with a comfortable save.

However, directly after Middlefield’s chance, Newmachar launched a counter of their own. A massive kick from Wilson saw Williams played through on goal. The ball seemed to bobble on the turf slightly which resulted in his shot going high and wide of the goal.

Middlefield had another opportunity, this time for Michal Wosinski. Played through on goal by Rafal Barbosa, Wosinski’s shot was powerful and from a difficult angle, forcing the keeper to dive to his near post in order to push the ball out for a corner.

Newmachar had looked dangerous from set pieces during the first half and had a glorious opportunity to extend their lead. A free kick crossed in from the left by Baillie was met by the head of Duncan who placed his attempt narrowly over at the back post.

Making the most of their opportunities, Newmachar moved even further into the lead as Duncan grabbed his second of the game. A ball over the top of the defence by Jardyn Beedie bounced before Duncan, who hit it on the half volley, smashing it past the helpless goalkeeper.

As the two teams went off for half time, Newmachar seemed worthy of their lead. Their fast attacking football took Middlefield by surprise in the early minutes. However, as the half continued, Middlefield began to come into their game and created enough chances to imply that it would be an entertaining second half.

In the same vein as the game’s opening minutes, Newmachar started quickly. A cross towards the back post from Reece Hasson was picked up by Declan Robb. Sliding in, Robb was unlucky to see his effort bounce off the post and out for a goal kick.

Coming into the game quicker this time, Middlefield fashioned a close chance. A cross into the box by James Gibson was flicked on by Samuel Ukah, forcing a quick reaction save from Wilson who tipped it over the bar.

However, Middlefield hopes were soon dashed as Newmachar were awarded a penalty when Duncan was taken to ground inside the box. Baillie stepped up to take it and sent the keeper the wrong way, placing it towards the left hand corner and further extending his team’s lead.

The excitement was not over yet though. Only five minutes later a penalty was awarded down the other end of the park for a hand ball from a Newmachar defender. Fraser Matthewson’s penalty looked decent but it was saved in glorious fashion by Wilson who dived to his right in order to push the ball away from goal.

As the game entered the final 15 minutes, Middlefield continued to put pressure upon the Newmachar back line who seemed determined to keep a clean sheet. An impressive run from Alistair Mitchell saw him beat multiple players before laying the ball out wide to Nairn Cain. Cain would have been in on goal if it was not for a spectacular last ditch tackle from Braden Robson in order to avert the danger.

With a minute left on the clock, Middlefield finally managed to break down the Newmachar defence. A blistering run from Ukah saw him fly down the left wing before playing a perfectly weighted ball to Cain whose finish at the back post was ample to ensure that his team got on the scoresheet.

As the referee signalled for the end of the game, Newmachar ran out deserved winners. A solid performance from front to back was topped off by some impressive attacking flourishes at key moments of the game – in particular the opening minutes in which they asserted their lead. However, Middlefield also showed their quality through fashioning a number of chances right until the final whistle, only let down by struggling to convert them.

Many thanks to both teams for what was an entertaining match on a somewhat chilly afternoon, and good luck for the remainder of the season.