FOOTBALL — Update From Port Juniors Community Sports Club2002s — St Andrew’s entertained Port Juniors in a league clash at Broomhill Both teams settled quickly and produced some neat and tidy passing football, however it was the Juniors who opened the scoring after a brilliant through-ball sent John Brown in on goal and he finished expertly with a great shot from just outside the box. St Andrew’s however dug in and deservedly equalised with a well-worked goal. It was 1-1 at half-time.
The game opened up in the second half the and the Juniors upped their game and started creating openings. The chances came and went and, with the teams locked at 1-1, an inspired substitution was made by the Juniors with TJ entering the fray. Within a minute he had scored with a delicious strike from 25 yards which zipped into the net. Juniors took control and added a third with a brilliant ball by TJ which split the defence. Stephen Gillan was on hand to net with a cool finish.
Another sensational goal followed from a quite exquisite move involving one-touch passing from TJ and Brooklyn Webster who set up Jai Douglas to slot home to complete the scoring. Final score was St Andrew’s 1 Port Juniors 4. Both sets of players deserve credit for playing their part in a good match conducted in a sporting manner. This was a cracking display by all the boys from Port Juniors especially referee’s man of the match Lewis Crawford.
2003s — The team were away against Alba in Paisley. The Juniors wanted to continue their recent good form so the coaches played a slightly different forward line that was full of pace. Jack F was sitting a bit deeper to control the middle of the park. The Juniors were getting a fair bit of joy down both flanks and Conner was unlucky not to finish when through one-on-one with the keeper. The Juniors’s back four were snuffing out any attack and every time the Juniors ventured forward it felt like they would score.
The first came after about 15 minutes with good build-up play through the middle of the park. Giacamo had cut in off the right and collected the ball 18 yards out. He slipped his marker with ease and stuck a left-foot shot past the keeper into the corner. Five minutes later Jack W sent a huge clearance up the middle of the park. Ben headed on and Seb took the ball wide and crossed. Ben and a defender attacked the ball, but were a bit underneath it and the ball fell again to Giacamo to tap in at the post. 0–2.
Number three followed soon after and this time came from a Juniors goal kick. Two passes later, Conner was in on goal and calmly finished to put the Juniors three up. From the re-start Alba pushed forward and it seemed that the Juniors had switched off all over the park. They worked the ball in off their right and across the area. The marking was dreadful and an Alba striker had time to pick his spot and score.
The boys took the wake-up call and got back to the task in hand. Within a minute, a well-worked move found Conner with space to drive in off the right. As he headed towards goal, the full-back had two goes before he upended the player for a penalty. Conner took it himself, dispatching a low, hard drive to the keepers’ right for goal number four, just after 30 minutes in.
There was no slacking off and the Juniors were easily controlling the tempo. Giacamo collected the ball after a slick move. He seemed to glide past two defenders before sublimely chipping the keeper from 25 yards out. It was 5-1 Juniors with 34 minutes played.
Bizarrely, the Alba keeper then walked off saying he wasn’t playing any more and the Alba coaches, with four subs, did not seem to want any one else to go in. All coaches agreed for the ref to call half-time and ten minutes later the game was unfortunately abandoned. Juniors get three points and can look forward to a semi-final against top-of-the-league Pollok.
Referee’s man of the match was Giacamo for his hat-trick.
Under-13 Girls — The girls travelled to Airdrie to face Gartcairn who have had a good start to the season and were thus far undefeated. Juniors had won their last five games and started well with Roma putting them in front after a great unselfish pass from Casey Leigh. Soon after, Julie set up Casey Leigh to make it 2-0 Juniors. The opposition managed to get one back against the run of play.
Taylor came on and slotted in well. Roma then set up Ellie who volleyed home for the girls’ third goal. Cassie came in for Casey Leigh and made an instant impact, making it 4-1 Juniors. Mhairi cleared the ball, setting up Cassie for the Juniors’s fifth goal of the half. Mhairi was excellent in defence and controlled everything at the back. Casey Leigh came back on and was unlucky hitting the post, coming close on a couple of other occasions. Neaveh did well, in the right midfield, as did Darcy in defence.
Juniors had lots of chances in the second half but there were some great saves from the opposition keeper. Juniors’s keeper Elle didn’t have much to do but, when called upon, dealt with everything like well. The final score was Gartcairn 1-5 Juniors. The girls worked very hard in the second half to limit the opposition chances.
Scorers — Cassie McKay (2), Casey Leigh Findlay, Roma Kelly, Ellie Anderson. For the second game in a row, player of the match was Cassie McKay.
Unfortunately the girls’ winning run came to a disappointing end. They hosted Morton at Parklea and, after Mhairi took a sore knock, the girls lost their shape and conceded three quick goals. The girls had a few chances but weren’t at their best.
It finished Juniors 1 – Morton 6. Referee’s player of the match for the third week running was Cassie McKay.
