FOOTBALL — Update From Port Juniors Community Sports Club2003s Port Glasgow Juniors 6 – Port Glasgow Boys’ Club 1 — The boys have been waiting a long time for this game and, right from the start, showed great attitude. The football was a joy to watch. Both teams were going for it, with the crossbar and the post both hit. Within minutes of the game starting the Juniors were in control and, after Gabriel scored the opener, they raised the bar and scored goal after goal.
Scorers: Jack F (2), Gabz, Seb (2), Callum. Referee’s man of match: Seb Kesson | The team thank sponsors Trevor Mackay Glide A Robe and Brian Hooper Swift School of Motoring
2007s — Both teams made sure that they put into practice their midweek training and in both games this was to pay dividends.
Port Juniors (Black) — The team was without goalie Ryan Harley, because of illness. This led the way for Marc Dunn to step up to the plate to help the team out against a very good opposition. The full line up was Marc, Niall J, Aidan G, Aimee, Niall G, Bracken, Conal and Dylan.
The Juniors started brightly but found themselves a goal down from the visitor’s first attack. Their second and third quickly followed but Juniors worked hard and showed some great character and tenacity to get themselves back into the game. The team won a corner and Niall J’s ball in was turned into his own net by the opposing defender. This gave the Juniors the lift they needed. Some neat play between Bracken and Dylan gained Juniors another corner. Just as he did before, Niall J played it into the area and this time Aimee was on hand to put the ball into the net.
The second half saw Niall G come into the game and he linked up well with Aidan G on numerous occasions. In one of his best moves, he picked the ball up and showed some skill to go and beat two players, gliding a pass to Aimee who was on hand again to thunder the ball into the top corner of the goal. By this time the Juniors were playing some fabulous football but, after all their hard work to get back to level terms, they found themselves going behind again. Both teams were piling pressure on their attacks and came close on several occasion but both goalies showed great skill as they were making some great saves.
Once again a set-piece unlocked the opposition. From another corner, Aimee secured her hat-trick. Late, Bracken started to get a bit more joy up the right as the game opened up and he deservedly got on the score sheet with a great left-footed shot after cutting in off the right hand side. Juniors persisted and again came close from a corner. Niall J, as he did all morning, put the ball on a plate for his team mates — this time it was Conal who got his shot away but was denied by the post. Either team could have won the game at the end although Marc kept Juniors in it with a great save and, at the other end, Bracken had a chance to score but was beaten by some fantastic defending.
Overall it was a great work-out for the Blacks and coaches were delighted with their efforts especially in the second half. Scorers were Aimee Murray (3) and Bracken McDonald, with player of the match going to Aimee for another great performance. Marc Dunn produced some special saves that assisted in getting the draw.
Port Juniors (Red) -– The team was without Aiden Ewen and Aidan Docherty because of illness which meant the line-up was Robbie (in goals), Jordan, Kimi, Liam, Alex, Warren, Rio and Conor G. The Reds got going very quickly and, within 90 seconds, found themselves ahead through a goal by Rio who did what he does best and shot on sight. This was rapidly followed up by a brace from Alex (one from either foot), a wonderfully-placed shot from Liam and another super finish from Rio leaving the Juniors five ahead within the first five minutes.
Unfortunately the opposition just couldn’t deal with the clean crisp passing, the skill and the speed of the play. The boys were putting into practice all the hard work and effort they show on the training ground as they moved the ball from back to front quickly and used their great initiative playing their team mates into a shot on goal when they don’t have one themselves. Warren and Alex were working the wings very well heading for the byeline and, if they couldn’t cut inside to get their shot away, they were lifting their head to find Liam or Rio on hand in space to get a shot on target.
With not much happening in defence, Jordan and Kimi were taking it in turns to burst forward and support these waves of attack and Liam was just too strong in the midfield area, picking up lots of loose balls and showing some great distribution. There was great work from Rio at the top of the formation, always making sure he got the ball into a position so that he could get a clean, crisp shot away and his reward was to get another three before the whistle. This was also added to as Liam scored another.
In the second half Warren used his quick speed to turn players inside out and got himself on the score sheet three times in succession. By now the boys were hungry again and it wasn’t long before Liam found himself strike a wonder effort from five yards outside the box into the bottom corner of the net, a goal that was hit with power and precision. With Conor G coming into the game, he was finding himself with some great chances to advance into the box and, with some neat dribbling, he was unlucky not to score. The visitors found themselves with a rare opportunity on goal that came from not so much a defensive mistake but more a lack of defence as Juniors found themselves pressing too high. This was duly slotted beyond Robbie who had no chance. The opposition got a few chances after this but, between the defenders and Robbie’s new-found rushing skills, they were quickly pushed back and Rio got his name onto that ever bulging list again.
The visitors got another clear chance and did well to trundle it into the net but overall Junior were too strong, with two more goals coming from Rio.
Scorers were: Riordan Mason (7), Liam Thompson (3), Warren McNelis (3) and Alex Higgins (2) with man of the match going to Liam Thompson for a solid display in midfield. Riordan Mason deserves a special mention for netting a wonderful total of seven goals.
The 2007s thank sponsors Carpetrite (Greenock), C&M Coaches, G.Murray Building Services and Allied Construction Services (Scotland)
2009s — The teams were in action for the first time since November, also playing five-a-side for the first time. The teams also now have official goalkeepers.
The Blacks started their first game well taking an early advantage but the boys where rusty and lost the pace of the game. After conceding five, the boys did well to score another few goals but the game was beyond them at that point. A different approach in the second game seemed to work, with goals coming in from all over the pitch. Zack Docherty and Ben Reid ran up and down the sidelines all day attacking and defending, making great passes for goals and chipping in with a few themselves. Jake Reiley and Paul Sterling did a great job making a real nuisance of themselves up front against really big defenders, showing no fear. In the last game there were some tired legs but Liam Campbell held his position to break up the opposition play to help the boys attack a lot more. Matthew Gault gave a great first goal-keeping performance to keep the Juniors kept us in the game.
The Blues played Glennifer in their first game and started well, passing and moving. The first long ball by the Juniors managed to catch the opposition defence out and Port finished it off well. After that it was all about defending as the other team pressed on and scored a few quick goals. Just before the final whistle he Juniors scored but couldn’t do enough to get the equaliser. Against Renfrew Victoria, the Juniors started of really well, becoming more comfortable on the ball, passing and moving, finding spaces to run into, scoring three goals. The boys’ confidence was at a high and they managed to keep the ball for long spells. The other team had no reply and the Juniors closed the game out with another two goals. The final match, against Linwood Rangers, started off quite slowly with a lot of long passes going astray. Juniors conceded early and had to chase the game but managed to grab an equaliser half way through. The boys pushed on and scored two more quick goals at the end to see the game out as comfortable winners.
The teams thank sponsors Altec Motors, Greenock and Louise Gault Photography
Girls’ Section — The Under-13s had a league game against Pollok. The girls started brightly with Elle Dinning getting a break of the ball and finishing to make it 1-0. The girls lost their grip on the game and conceded two goals to go in at half time 2-1 down. The second half started really well and there was a great through-ball from Erin for Elle D to finish and bring Juniors level. The girls kept pushing and a left-foot shot from Erin was tipped over. The Juniors continued to press and kept Pollok pinned in but couldn’t get the winner. Pollok broke and scored with pretty much the last kick of the ball. It was a massive disappointment but should not take away from a more than decent performance from. A special mention goes to Erin Stuart who helped out at the last minute after some late call-offs by playing in goal, looking assured in anything she was asked to do, and also Mhairi Montgomery who had a great game at the back playing mostly alongside the referee’s player of the match Victoria Brade. Elle Dinning, who has only been with the team a couple of weeks, was impressive too, scoring two goals.
The girls are looking to add to their pools for all age groups — Under-Nines, 11s, 13s, 15s an 17s. Anyone who wants a trial should contact Mags on the number below.
The Under-Nines and 13s also looking for sponsors — call Mags on 07908 206 262.
