21/04/01 Inter Malamb 9 Parscelona 7
(Seriously)

April 21st 2001

Inter Malamb 9 Parscelona 7
Sheddocksley, Aberdeen

[thanks to Heather for taking notes]

Pars didn't have the best of preparation for this match, with a vastly reduced squad making the trip and some last minute alterations to the travel plans. Scraping together ten Parscelona players and one ringer, we were also grateful for Inter Malamb veterean Ewan Dow volunteering to act as a sub for us (the favour is returned! - see previous match against Aberdeen).

The weather wasn't bad, and with no referee it looked like it would be an interesting match. It certainly was, with both sides recording possibly a record number of chances.

Pars scored first, after a frantic scramble in the fifth minute saw the ball end up with Keith Mackie, who shot low past the Aberdeen keeper.

Pars were kept on their toes at the back too, with Johnnie having to make a spectacular challenge (it says here) and Ronz pulling off a couple of good saves.

Pars last-minute ringer addition to the squad (to bring it up to a massive squad of 11) had a couple more shots at goal thwarted before he set up Parscelona's second in the fifteenth minute. His low cross rolled just behind Alan Maxwell, who stopped it, turned and poked it through a mass of legs and past the Dons' keeper.

Norrie again had a chance from a cross from Alan, but was unlucky not to score with his glacing header. He did grab a deserved goal eventually however, running into the box and sliding it under the keeper to put Pars 3-0 up with eighteen minutes played.

Things started to go pear-shaped then for the Pars. Aberdeen pulled back one goal fairly quickly, then grabbed a second on the counter attack two minutes later, after Parscelona made a mess of a corner. Aberdeen's confidence was boosted, and they were denied another goal with some reslolute defending from the young Pars duo of Steven Clark and Scott Smyth.

Pars were really riding their luck now - after half an hour, Aberdeen hit the post and then Steven Clark blasted a shot onto his own crossbar. Their luck finally ran out when the corner was swung in, missed by Ronz and then dropped in at the back post off the unfortunate Steven Clark.

The end to end football continued. Plenty of chances were being created, many due to having no referee to call offsides. Alan Maxwell discovered the down side to having no referee when he was through on goal but was all but strangled by the remaining Aberdeen defender.

Parscelona regained their lead in the 36th minute when Alan Maxwell found his way through on goal again, and when his first attempt was only parried by the keeper he was left with an easy shot into an empty net.

The play continued to swing from end to end, and after Fraser and Norrie both had chances go abegging, Aberdeen came close with another corner. Keith Mackie also failed to grab a second when he put his shot off target.

Unfortunately Aberdeen equalised again, and on the stroke of half time grabbed another to give them a 5-4 lead at half time.

Aberdeen were still on top going into the second half and after Pars had managed to clear a corner Aberdeen managed to mount another attack and make it 6-4 after only two minutes.

Ronz and Steven were again to the rescue of Parscelona, before the Pars had another chance on goal. Grant Macleod found himself through on goal but a poor touch sent him too wide and his shot was sliced past.

The ball was going from goal to goal like a yoyo now, and following a Pars corner, Fraser Clark was called into action to clear the ball with "suave sophistication" (I'm beginning to think Heather's taking the piss with her notes now).

Right sod this, let's have a digest version. Aberdeen corner. Grant Macleod shot. Ronz save. Pars bungle easy chance. Pars corner goes wide. Alan's cross finds an empty box.

Aberdeen made it 7-4 in the eighteenth minute ("little ginga bloke does it again," read the notes).

Johnnie avoided a quick 8th by clearing after three Aberdeen shots.

Pars got back into it in the twenty-first minute when Alan Maxwell raced clear of the defence amid calls for offside (bollocks say I, their number 14 played me on all the way!) and netted his hat-trick.

In the twenty-fourth minute, it was 8-5, and Parscelona opted for a tactical chance and threw Steven Clark up front in place of Alan Maxwell.

The next chance fell to Scott Smyth, who let rip with a shot from the edge of the box. It flew wide, but is notable for being his first shot at goal ever.

Johnnie and Ronz were again called upon to rescue the Pars before being dealt a blow when Fraser Clark had to go off injured. This didn't deter the Pars however, and with ten minutes remaining they got another goal back. Grant Macleod attempted a shot from a Parscelona free kick, and it was sent into the home goal via the back of one of Aberdeen's own defenders.

After squandering another couple of chances, Aberdeen went three up again, with about five minutes left.

After weathering another couple of Sheep attacks, Parscelona pulled back one more goal through another Norrie effort, but that was all they could muster up before the full time whistle. Final score, 9-7 to Inter Malamb, though how anybody managed to keep count I'm not sure.

Pars squad: Ronz, F. Clark, S. Clark, S. Smyth, A. Mercer, K. Mackie, A. Maxwell, G. Macleod, N. Little, E. Campbell, J. MacDougall
(plus a guest appearance from Ewan Dow)