Dyce 3 - 0 Hall Russell United

The Hoops made it three wins on the bounce with a hard fought win over Hall Russell Utd at a very chilly IMP. A very uneventful and goal-less first period brought little in the way of quality or entertainment but thankfully things picked up a bit more after the break with three goals giving us the victory.

It was Russells who had the first chance of the match in the 12th minute, McDonald finding himself through on Andy but his low shat came back off the base of the post. A high crossed saw Mike T challenge Carroll in the away goal but there were no takers for the loose ball and it was cleared. A couple of minutes before the break a long ball was well controlled by Ads and his shot from the edge of the box was well tipped wide by Carroll. In the closing seconds a low shot from Hardie go wide of Andy’s left hand post and that was literally all that happened in the first half.

There seemed to be a bit more urgency at the start of the second half and it paid off with the opening goal in the 50th minute. Mark’s through ball found Paul Napier on the right and his low cross fell to MIKE T who took a touch and found the bottom corner with a left footed shot. The visitors came back and Andy had to push wide a free kick from 25 yards before Dicky’s good run into the box at the other end was well intercepted at the last second. The second goal did arrive though with 58 mins played, when Mackie failed to clear Mike’s low cross and MARK B latched on to the ball to toe-bash it past Carroll from 12 yards. Hardie had another go as Russells refused to give up but Andy was there to tip it over, before Mark B had the ball in the net again but the flag was up. Mackie fired over for the visitors before the game was finished as a contest with a third goal in the 75th minute. Leitho’s lofted pass found Paul NAPIER racing through and although Carroll did well to block his shot the midfielder rolled in the rebound to clinch the points.