FOOTBALL — Update From Port Glasgow Boys’ Club2004s Port Glasgow BC (Orange) 8 Hillwood (White) 0
Port Glasgow changed their line-up and rested some players, giving some boys a chance to push for a first-team start. Michael Doyle and Matthew Anderson started up front with Niall Brady coming in to the right side of midfield, Bradley Anderson to left back, Luke Folan to right back and Peter Ingram to centre mid.
A few minutes in, Callum Brown put the Port ahead with a fine strike. With an unfamiliar line-up, it took a while for the boys to adjust to new positions and get the shape right. Hillwood had a succession of corners and some good early pressure that had the Port’s defence at sixes n sevens.
The Port had to wait a while to get another goal as Hillwood worked hard to keep their shape and break up the Port’s attacks. The second goal came from a long diagonal ball by Bradley Campbell which found Niall Brady on the right; a cool finish from Niall gave the keeper no chance. With the Port settling into the game, Paddy Gault added a third before Michael Doyle rounded off the scoring in the first half.
The second half began as the first half started with Callum Brown scoring a goal to double his tally for the season. Brown had a golden chance for his hat-trick but flashed his shot just wide.
Kyle Fuller had a goal disallowed for offside as he chipped the advancing keeper.
To Hillwood’s credit, they kept trying to play football as the Port had wave after wave of attacks. Declan Byrne chipped in with two more goals to put the Port out of sight, adding to his impressive tally this season. Port’s final goal came after some fantastic build-up play with Matthew Anderson on hand to tap the ball home.
Scorers: Callum Brown, Niall Brady, Paddy Gault, Michael Doyle, Declan Byrne, Matthew Anderson | Man of the match: Peter Ingram
The team thank sponsors Marcus Humphrey, SGN and Taurus Ops
Under-17s Port Glasgow BC 1 Westerton 0
Port welcomed unbeaten Westerton for a top-of-the-table clash.
Port started with a high tempo and had a chance to take the lead in the first five minutes. A nicely-timed ball through from Ciaran Gavin saw Jack Anderson get a shot at goal but the attempt went over the bar. Westerton came back at Port and got a free kick in a dangerous position, but it was held well by Lewis McClure in the Port goal. Port had another good chance when David McLennan floated a corner in to the box but Ryan Phillips was unlucky and pulled his shot wide.
Another great ball from Ciaran Gavin to Jack Anderson saw his shot hit the top of the crossbar this time. Westerton cut out a Port attack and went on the counter-attack themselves. They got a shot on goal but it was superbly save by Lewis McClure. The first half came to a close with both teams having chances but failing to convert them.
At the start of the second half, it was Westerton who seemed to have upped the tempo and Port had Lewis McClure to thank for pulling off a good save early in the half. Good work from Josh McAuslan saw him pick up the ball and drive forward. He played a good ball which was flicked on by Josh Lafferty and found Ryan Phillips one-on-one with the Westerton keeper who pulled off a great save to turn the ball wide. Port got a free kick in a dangerous position but David McLennan’s shot was saved superbly by the keeper.
Port eventually managed to break the deadlock late in the half. Scott Marshall sent a free kick in to the box, it was met by the head of Ciaran Gavin to put it in the path of David McLennan to hammer the ball in to the net. Port almost killed the game but Ciaran Gavin saw his header hit the bar from a David McLennan corner.
This was a great victory for Port and an all-round superb defensive display in a tough contest. | Referee’s Man of the Match: Ciaran Gavin
The team thanks kit sponsors JD External Building Services, Inverweld and McKinnon Bros. Property Maintenance.
