FOOTBALL — Update From Port Glasgow Boys’ Club
2010s — The 2010s (Black) thank Graeme Hughes of Graeme Hughes Building Services for sponsoring the team’s first strips. The boys will play every Sunday morning in the Paisley, Johnstone and District Youth Football League.
2008s — The team returned to action taking part in Morton Community friendly tournament at Battery Park. The boys started out very well displaying good passing, movement and tremendous effort and sportsmanship throughout the morning. Ben deserves a special mention; after a hard summer at Morton Camp he is shining through on the right side of midfield and this weekend gets a chance on the pitch at half-time of Morton v Livingston. The 2008s thank Morton Community for the invitation to this tournament.
2004s — Palace Park 2 – Port Glasgow BC (Orange) 3
Port took on Palace Park at the Ibrox complex in Govan. It was a competitive game; both teams were looking for their first win of the season. With high winds causing problems, the game kicked off. The Port started the match brightly and tried to create a few chances but the weather ensured they couldn’t play — most through balls went out of play leaving the front two, Byrne and Macleary, frustrated.
In the middle of the park, P. Gault and Gilmour were having a lot of joy against the opposing centre mids but it was Palace Park who scored first with a shot drilled across goal that evaded keeper O’Neill. The goal meant a substitution too as O’Neill was injured. Byrne stepped up for a turn in goal while the keeper was assessed, and he had very little to do as the Port started to turn the screw and pressure Palace Park’s defence. Macleary equalised for the Port with a fine strike but moments later he was also off injured after taking on two defenders driving into the box, both defenders leaving the boot in which had the Port coaches screaming for a penalty but no foul was given.
The Port were trying to make it to half time without any more casualties and were glad when the whistle went. During the interval both Macleary and O’Neill declared themselves fit for the second half which gave the boys a massive boost. Palace park were first to have a chance as the Port’s defence struggled to cope with a corner. Clearly O’Neill was still hampered by the hand injury as he tried to palm the ball away.
Up the other end, Lyle MacDonald put the Port back in front before another Palace Park corner ended with a powerful header making it 2-2. With time running out, the Port went three at the back, a formation they got a lot of joy from last week, and started to press. With minutes on the clock, a through-ball to Byrne found the striker out on the right. He drove forward then angled a shot across goal in to the far corner of the net to win the game for the Port.
Coaches are very pleased with the way the boys applied themselves battling to the end. With a couple of injuries and players having to move positions to accommodate others it was a good display. Bradley Campbell’s efforts are worthy of praise. He had a difficult season last year but has come in this season and done really well; a perfect example that hard work and dedication pays off.
Scorers — Macleary, MacDonald, Byrne. Man of the match: Macleary | The team thank sponsors Marcus Humphrey
2004s (Black)
The Port entertained Thorn Athletic in their opening league match in Division Two of the Paisley, Johnstone and District Youth Football League. With a depleted squad because of school holidays, it was an unfamiliar line-up and this showed as they found themselves two down at half-time. They then went three down after an outstanding strike by the Thorn forward, bending his shot into the top corner. This seemed to jolt the boys into action and they pulled one back through Darroch, then C. Baxter added a second and it was game on. With the Port throwing all at Thorn, they were picked off late in the game when a long ball caught out the defence. Despite keeper McDougall getting a hand to it, the ball hit the inside of the post and went into the back of the net. Scorers: Darroch and C. Baxter
Giffnock (Black) were the visitors to Parklea for the second league match and, yet again, the Port waited until they were three down before they decided to play. With a depleted squad again, the Port were dealt a further blow with loss of keeper McDougall. Scott helped the team out by playing in goal. Giffnock scored early on and added further goals before the break. Again this seemed to wake the Port up and Darroch scored a 25-yard screamer and it was game on. Sub McDonald then shot from 25 yards out, the keeper couldn’t hold the shot and Darroch was on hand to tap in. Despite the best efforts of the boys they couldn’t get the equaliser. Scorer: Darroch (2)
The Port travelled to Hillwood BC on Saturday, still without their keeper McDougall, and took on high-flying Hillwood. In an entertaining first half, the Port found themselves one down after Hillwood broke down the right and squared for the forward to finish, despite Scott saving his first effort. The Port kept battling away and equalised when Smith and the Hillwood goalkeeper challenged for the ball and it broke to Darroch to fire home from 20 yards. Hillwood then took the lead on the stroke of half-time when the Port failed to clear a corner and the Hillwood forward headed home from two yards out. In the second half, Port pulled level when good play put Smith clear and he passed it underneath the goalkeeper to make it 2-2. Hillwood broke down the right and passed inside for the forward to tap in to take the lead. Again the boys fought back to equalise with a fine finish by O’Rourke from the corner of the box and it appeared to be game on again. However the game changed when a Hillwood substitution turned the game in their favour, with the Port midfield and defence unable to cope with his strength and speed. He scored a hat-trick and set up a couple more. Scorers: Darroch, Smith and O’Rourke
The Port played Drumchapel Utd on Monday, determined to get three points on the board. With a full squad to choose from for the first time this season, including the return of their injured keeper, the Port took the game to Drumchapel from the off. After a few good saves from the Drumchapel keeper, it was Drumchapel who took the lead with a wonder finish in off the post. The Port however continued to get the ball down and play their football. It was rewarded when Creen struck a left foot finish high past the Drumchapel keeper. The Port continued to push on and it wasn’t long before they added a second with a good finish from Smith. The second half saw the Port continue to dominate and Madden added a third with a brave header from a Scott free-kick. Smith then added his second and the Port’s fourth when McAteer played him in for another calm finish. Not content with this, the Port continued to take the game to Drumchapel and Scott added a fifth from distance before Drumchapel scored a consolation. However the Port remained on the front foot and added a sixth when McPhee pounced in the box to fire home. This was a much better all-round performance and one to build on in the coming weeks. Scorers: Creen, Smith (2), Madden, Scott and McPhee
Players and coaches thank sponsors Ian Millar of Millar Property and Michael Stevenson
2003s Port Glasgow BC 6 St Cadoc’s 2
Port started their first league game slowly and lost an early goal when St Cadoc’s scored from a free header. Port responded well and Ciaran McLees scored from a corner and then scored with a tap-in. St Cadoc’s equalised just before half-time from a penalty. Port started the second half strongly and good work by Lee Finlay down the left wing set up Josh Miller for two tap-ins. Lennon Crawley scored the fifth when he stepped inside a defender and hit an unstoppable shot into the net. Owen O’Rourke finished the scoring from 30 yards out.
Port Glasgow 2003s are sponsored by Ensite Business Technology.
Under-17s Port Glasgow BC 2 Lenzie 3
Port welcomed Lenzie to Parklea in their first League Cup group match. A bright start saw Port take control of the game, creating some good chances but they failed to break the deadlock. Lenzie took the lead with their first real chance of the game. A goal-mouth scramble saw the eventual Lenzie shot deflect past Port keeper Lewis McClure. Port almost hit back quickly when good play from Reuben Ballingall saw him fouled to win Port a free kick in a dangerous position. David McLennan stepped up but his free kick went just over the bar. With Port on the attack, Jack Anderson made the keeper save well with a good strike from the edge of the box. Good play again from Reuben Ballingall saw his shot go just wide. Next David McLennan sent a good free kick in to the box where it met the head of Lewis Lafferty but his header went just over the bar. Port did manage to pull one back just before half-time. Lewis Lafferty went on a run but was fouled out wide winning Port a free kick. David McLennan sent the ball in to the box where Ciaran Gavin won the ball before striking it past the Lenzie keeper.
In the second half, Port had a chance early on when Josh Lafferty stole the ball from the Lenzie defence and sent a pass in the direction of Scott Marshall but his shot was saved. Still on the attack, Port won a corner which Reuben Ballingall sent in to the box where Lewis Lafferty rose above everyone to head on and put Port ahead. Poor defending from Port then gifted Lenzie an equaliser when they failed to clear their lines and the Lenzie striker nipped in to strike past McClure. Lenzie managed to get a winner near the end of the game when a corner was whipped in to the box and Port failed to clear.
Overall this was a really good performance from the side which has quite a few new faces in the team. Referee’s man of the match: Jack Anderson. The team thank sponsors JD External Building Services and Inverweld for continued support.
