Aths 2 Back 1

On a glorious night for football Aths tore apart any lingering hope that Back may have had of challenging for the league. After this performance Aths have opened up the race for the runners up spot with 5 teams now separated by just 3 points.

From the off Aths took the game to Back and were rewarded within 3 minutes when a cross from the right was thumped home by Ali Walker. Back were stunned and struggled to get a feel for the game with the Aths defence very much on top particularily Steven Clinton whose no nonsense style of defending kept Hector MacPhee at bay for much of the match. Back had a great chance to equalise on 30 minutes when a Michael Mackay cross rolled agonisingly away from the in-rushing Inny Red but it was Aths who finished the half stronger when Ali Walker should have put them 2 up but tamely shot at Tohan in the Back goal.

After an insipid first half the second period boiled over as the blues began to see red. Ross Hall, who had already been booked, up-ended Scott Maciver and received a second yellow from Angus Morrison. That seemed to ignite the match as both sides dished out the heavy stuff with some ferocious tackling which saw Willie Macrury go in the book for Aths. When both sides got back to the football it was Back who nearly levelled when Michael Mackay shot on the turn only to see the ball hit the post and rebound to safety as Colin Macritchie looked on helplessly.

With Back down to 10 men Aths had chance after chance to score with Nicolas Davies, Scott Maciver and Ali Walker spurning guilt edged opportunities. Within minutes however Aths doubled their lead. Martin Maclean hit the deck after a nudge in the back but Angus Morrison waved play on and as Back preferred to remonstrate with the referee Scott Maciver careered towards goal and rounded Tohan. Cue chaos and disarray as Back let Angus Morrison know what they though of his descision with Euan Moley finding himself yellow carded.

With 10 minutes to go Back pulled one back when David Maciver lashed home from

the edge of the box but try as they might Back could not get the equaliser which

would have robbed Aths of a victory that they fully deserved on the night.