FOOTBALL — Update From Port Glasgow Boys’ Club
Port Glasgow BC’s new 2011s (Black) team with sponsor Garry Kelly of GK Ground Maintenance
2003s Port Glasgow BC 3 Dumbarton Riverside 0
Port Glasgow welcomed top-of-the-table Dumbarton to Parklea and started the game in determined fashion. Lewis Kerr was denied by the keeper who bravely dived at his feet. Dumbarton had the better of the next 20 minutes. Luke Cunningham made a good low save and Lewis Leitch and Owen O’Rourke made some important clearances. Ciaran McLees then saw his effort saved by the keeper at the top corner. Ross Meldrum played a through-ball from midfield and Lewis Kerr made no mistake when he ran on to the pass and slotted past the keeper.
Just before half-time, Ben Wilson made an important challenge to stop the Dumbarton forward shooting. Early in the second half, Luke Cunningham made a great save, tipping the ball over the bar. Sean Doherty came on as a sub and made an immediate impact when he won the ball in midfield and, after beating two players, passed to Lewis Kerr who scored his second of the game. Port continued to press with Lee Finlay making some great tackles. Ross Meldrum scored near the end of the game from outside the box with a low drive that gave the keeper no chance.
Port Glasgow Boys Club 2003s are sponsored by Ensite Business Technology.
2004s Port Glasgow BC (Orange) 5 St Cadoc’s 3
Port entertained St Cadoc’s in their first divisional cup group stage match. The first 15 minutes was probably the best spell of football the Port has played all season with three goals from Macleay, Fuller and Gilmour putting them on top. Throughout the first half, the Port were the better side and dominated their opponents, with the midfield four of Ingram, Brown, Macleod and Gilmour dictating play and running amok down the wings.
The St Cadoc’s keeper and defenders threw themselves in front of every ball as player after player had a shot at goal for the Port. It should’ve been a lot more for the Port before the break but credit to St Cadoc’s for defending well and not giving up. With several games in a week for the Port, the pack was shuffled. Against the run of play a long ball caught the Port’s defence on the back foot and the St Cadoc’s player raced through to place a shot across goal and in to Declan Byrne’s left post. The Port upped their play again with Doyle making it 4-1 before St Cadoc’s had a man sent off.
Declan Byrne in goal was making good use of the ball; his distribution was superb all day. Peter Ingram put the Port 5-1 up before more changes were made giving all the subs a run out. Against 10 men, the Port went with three at the back and pushed forward at every opportunity. In hindsight, chasing more goals cost two goals, as players were caught out of position and couldn’t recover. It finished 5-3 to the Port after a very good footballing display from every player on the park.
Referee’s man of the match was Peter Ingram
2004s Langcraigs 2 Port Glasgow BC (Orange) 2
Port travelled to Paisley to take on Langcraigs in the group stage of the divisional cup. The first half was a pretty even affair with Langcraigs opening the scoring before the Port gifted them a second after a defensive mix-up allowed their player to nip in and score. The game was going from end to end with both teams having chances to add to the score line. Callum Brown raced through on goal for the Port with minutes left of the first half and calmly slotted the ball past the advancing keeper to make it 2-1.
There was a bit more fight and belief from the Port in the second half as both sides went for it. Players were crunching in to tackles and giving it their all. There were chances at both ends, with the Port’s stand in goalie Byrne pulling off a few fine saves. With 13 minutes left, substitute Darren Macleay got the Port on level terms. The final minutes saw the Port change formation going to a 4-4-2 to try to win the game but it wasn’t to be. The boys showed grit and determination to come back from 2-0 down and they also showed that, when needed, they can certainly match a physical team.
Referees man of the match: Declan Byrne
2004s Port Glasgow BC (Orange) 3 Langcraigs 5
On a sodden wet pitch, the Port took on Division Three champions-elect Langcraigs. It wasn’t going to be a night for pretty football as a few long balls over the top put the Port’s defence under pressure in the first few minutes. Just six minutes on the clock and Langcraigs took the lead. They could have doubled their lead almost immediately, as a ball down the left was crossed in to the unmarked player at the back post but he headed it straight into keeper Byrne’s hands. Peter Ingram was inches away from bringing the Port level, smacking the upright, before Substitute Jack Nelson scored with a well-worked goal on 26 minutes.
Langcraigs hit back with a goal on the stroke of half-time to go in at the break 2-1. In the second half, Jack Nelson was taken out by the keeper who was lucky to escape with only a yellow card. Kyle Fuller stepped up to take the penalty which was well saved but Fuller made no mistake with the rebound. At 2-2 Langscraigs came again and again and took the lead to go 3-2 up. With the Port behind, up stepped Jack Nelson again to pull them level. At 3-3, the next goal was going to be the important one, with both teams creating a few chances. Unfortunately for the Port, it fell to Langcraigs. The Port looked deflated and conceded a soft goal towards the end for it to finish 5-3.
Declan Byrne again stepped up to play in goal with young Hayden O’Neill not expected back until pre-season. Jack Nelson who has only been with the team a few weeks has hit the ground running and is looking like a great addition to the squad.
Referee’s man of the match: Jack Nelson
This game brought the Port’s league season to an end and the team now turns its attention to the divisional cup. With four points from two games, the Port are looking for a win next week against Palace Park to put them in the semi-finals.
The team thank sponsor Marcus Humphrey House, SGN and Taurus Ops.
2010s (Black) — The team thank sponsor Graeme Hughes of GH Building Services for his continued support. The 2010s (Black) also congratulate coach James Harris and his new wife Nicola, who got married on Saturday — so no game this weekend.
