GLENIFFER THISTLE  2     GOUROCK YAC  1

 

Chances were few and far between in this 2nd round Scottish Cup tie between Gleniffer 16's and Gourock at Seedhill on Saturday but it was played in true cup tie style and the yellow card count at the end was at least twice that of the goals tally.

The balance of attacking play certainly racked up in Thistle's favour in the first half but their finishing rarely caused any panic for the visiting keeper, a couple of long range efforts from surprise striker for the day Ali Herrington; an experiment that was niether a glorious success nor a disastrous failure; and the big man did have the last laugh later in the match from his more accustomed berth in midfield.

Despite everything that Gleniffer could throw at them the Gourock defence stood firm, snapping into tackles, closing down the space, keeping a good line at the back and getting themselves up the park when the opportunity arose. Indeed the visitors might have taken the lead in the 25th minute and Gleniffer were indebted to the bravery and the knees of keeper Sean Baird when he dived at the feet of a Gourock forward. The ball rebounded clear and that was the total of the keepers involvement, other than dealing with an enthusiastic Davy Wardrop back pass in the second half, as the Gleniffer back four were also in unforgiving mood.

No surprise when the half ended with a blank scoreline.

Thistle maintained their offensive advantage in the second half with Kris Bryson causing all sorts of problems for the Gourock defence with clever runs and some excellent hold up and lay off play ably assisted by the restoration of regular striker Stevie McKee in place of the experimental Herrington.

Gleniffer midfielders Crossan and Henderson upped the pace with driving runs right and left, Crossan in particular coming in for some close attention from the visiting defenders which saw two of them booked inside five minutes. Just as it was looking like a matter of time a long free kick was delivered into the Gleniffer box, headed straight up in the air and the Gourock striker reacted quickest to hook the ball high into the net to give the visitors the lead against the run of play.

With 20 minutes remaining Thistle threw everything forward in search of an equaliser and it almost arrived two minutes later when a Crossan corner flew an inch wide from the head of striker McKee. A taste of things to come perhaps when Crossan again won a disputed corner [looked like a bye kick to me] which he delivered to the front post where it was delightfully flicked on by the head of Kris Bryson and buried at the back post by the head of Ali Herrington, who had returned to play in his usual midfield position.

Back level, and with five minutes still to play, Gleniffer were determined to avoid extra time and pushed for a winner. Said winner duly appeared in the last minute. A free kick swept into the box by Scott Crawford, probably Gleniffers' best performer on the day, was bundled clear. The clever feet of McKee controlled the loose ball with a touch, played it through the advancing backline with a second directly into the path of the inrushing Jamie Henderson who finished with some style and Gleniffer progress to the third round.

Gourock, who had contributed well to the competitiveness of the match and taken the lead may well feel robbed by the late winner but Thistle just about deserved the victory.

Best for Thistle undoubtedly Scott Crawford but Gary Pettigrew put in his usual excellent performance, Alexander Crossans' power and surging runs from the middle were invaluable and whoever picks up Thistle front man Kris [Nonstop] Bryson must sleep well on a Saturday night.

 

 

GOUROCK Y.A.C  2    GLENIFFER THISTLE  4

 

For the second time in a week Gleniffer lined up against Gourock and followed up last week's hard fought Cup victory with an equally difficult league success at Darroch Park.

Alexander Crossan set the tone of the match winning his first tackle inside three seconds, actually reaching the ball from Gourock's kick off, and although that attack came to nothing when he won his second crunching tackle four minutes later the big mans power and pace carried him right through the middle of the Gourock defence to give Thistle an early lead with a cracking drive from just inside the area.

With the advantage of a strong breeze Gleniffer powered forward at every opportunity hemming the home side deep in their own half where ,to their credit, Gourock defended very well and the only real chance for Thistle to extend their lead fell to Matt McStay following some delightful interplay between Henderson, Herrington and Crossan

but the shot was only half hit by the stretching McStay and the keeper gathered easily.

Gourock upped the pace of their game and more of the action began to take place in the Gleniffer half of the field but Davy Wardrop won everything in the air and the two Scotts, Bramma and Crawford, won everything on the ground and consequently Sean Baird in goal was little troubled.

Disaster struck for Thistle in the 26th minute when Gary Pettigrew, undoubtedly Gleniffers best and most dependable player of the season so far, was caught in possession at the back and with the freedom of the area the Gourock attacker beat Baird with a fine curling shot to level the scores at one apiece.

Realizing that they would have to face the wind in the second half, and that going in level was not a great idea, Thistle set about re-establishing their lead and got their noses back in front right on the half time whistle.

Superb ball control by Ali Herrington and an outrageous turn took three Gourock players out of the game allowing him to find Jamie Henderson with a delightful pass and Henderson's strike had goal written all over it until, unbelievably, the Gourock keeper got a hand to it. Unfortunately for the home side David Morrow was the first to react to the loose ball and he fairly battered it into the back of the net to give Gleniffer a narrow lead at the break.

Facing the wind Thistle were under much greater pressure in the second half but the defence worked their socks off to keep Gourock out and none more so than Pettigrew who didn't put a foot wrong in the entire period. Crossan was forced into a more defensive midfield role and the Gleniffer captain was everywhere, breaking up play, making tackles and runs from his own half to provide some relief for the hard pressed back line.

Thistle freshened up with a treble substitution bringing on Stevie McKee and trialists Ciaran McKenna and Davy Kerr for their first appearance for Gleniffer. The fresh legs helped Thistle take control and McKee's marker was booked for a poor tackle on the Gleniffer striker less than a minute after McKee had taken the field. The pace of Kerr further strengthened an already solid back line and Ciaran McKenna, playing his first competative match in over a year, certainly looked the part up front. On this performance neither Kerr nor McKenna will be trialists this time next week.

Back on the offensive Gleniffer forced a corner 12 minutes into the half which Crossan curled into the front post where McKee and his marker both rose for the header. The ball finished up in the back of the net. Crossan is adamant that the ball was over the goal line before anyone touched it; McKee claims he put it in and the defender, although not asked, would probably deny all knowledge of it. Anyway one of the three of them did it and Gleniffer lead by three to one.

Marking McKee would test the patience of a saint and the Gourock full back made one rash challenge too many, clattering McKee to the turf for the umpteenth time, and the match referee was left with little choice but to send the player off.

Playing a man short Gourock still pressed forward to get themselves back into the game and Gleniffer frequently had men over when they attacked. With ten minutes remaining Thistle put the result beyond doubt when Crossan again burst from midfield leaving players in his wake. A superb curling ball with the outside of his right foot split the home defense and McKenna raced in from the blind side to finish with style.

Gourock did pull a goal back at the death but the points were already in the bag and Gleniffer were well worth their victory.

Best for Thistle with a performance of aggression, tackling, power, pace, a goal or maybe two goes without doubt to Alexander Crossan, McKee up front was excellent    and following his first half error the usual faultless display from Gary Pettigrew.

 

 

 

GLENIFFER THISTLE  2     MEADOWPARK  0

 

Gleniffer under 16s played host to league leaders Meadowpark at the Racecourse on Saturday in their first league match in over a month and although not in top form were worthy winners on a surface not ideally suited to flowing football.

Despite the surface Thistle kept the ball on the deck and played their normal passing game to the best of their ability and were greatly aided in terms of possession by the visitors long ball game. Everything was thumped long from the back, overshooting the Meadowpark strikers giving the Gleniffer backline acres of space to gather the ball and launch attack after attack through the midfield where the control of Ali Herrington and the strength of Alexander Crossan provided numerous chances for McKee and McKenna up front.

The well organised but overworked visiting defence put in a great shift to keep Gleniffer out  but were caught out in the 26th minute when David Morrow cut in from the left flank and floated a beauty over the tall keeper from the angle of the box into the side netting inside the right hand post.

Meadowbank thought they had equalised just before half time when the ball ended up in the back of the Gleniffer net but it was obvious that the ball had passed the wrong side of the post, creeping under the loose side net, and referee Brian McNellis was perfectly positioned to award a goal kick. Despite continued pressure Thistle were unable to add to their tally and the half ended with Gleniffer having only a single goal advantage to reflect their domination of the opening period.

The visitors seriously shortened their game at the opening of the second half and looked a better team for it. Gleniffer lost the services of Davie Wardrop with a thigh strain and with the big man missing Jamie Henderson was forced back into the centre half position reducing Thistle's drive from the midfield, but even having more of the play Meadowbank were unable to test Gleniffer keeper Baird but for a single occasion when he had to punch clear from a corner. The clearance reached the half way line.

With only a single goal in it the visitors weren't prepared to give up the contest but they came up against the best defence in the league, with Gary Pettigrew outstanding, and it was little wonder that Sean Baird was able to record his fourth clean sheet of the season.

 Excellent play from Stuart McKenzie took the Thistle midfielder to the edge of opposition area and a delightfully concealed pass gave Conor McFadden the chance to wrap up the points but the Gleniffer striker took a touch to many and the Meadowbank keeper bravely smothered the ball.

Gleniffer pushed for a second goal to settle the tie and it came 10 minutes from time. Stevie McKee, a constant menace throughout the match, won a free kick just outside the box almost on the left touchline.

Alexander Crossan whipped a curling ball to the six yard line where Ali Herrington either couldn't reach it or cleverly pulled his head out of the way. Regardless, the Meadowbank keeper was wrong footed and the ball bounced home. 

Best for Thistle were Gary Pettigrew, faultless behind a well marshalled defence, Stevie McKee a constant threat up front and Crossan and Henderson in the middle of the park who pushed the team forward at every opportunity and defended when they had to. 

 

 

MEADOWPARK  1    GLENIFFER THISTLE 16s  0

The narrow margin of the score line tells the story of the match; two well matched teams separated by a single goal and even early in the match it looked likely that the first to score would collect the points.Thistle started the match without Alexander Crossan and Gary Pettigrew and suffered a further set back after only five minutes losing striker Kris Bryson with an ankle injury. Despite these problems it was Gleniffer who started brighter with Herrington and Henderson running the midfield and the left side runs of Stuart McKenzie carried a threat to the home defence on numerous occasions.

A superb passing move involving Henderson, McKenzie and McKenna produced an opening for Henderson who rattled the crossbar with a powerful drive from the edge of the area in the tenth minute. Thistle continued to dominate the opening period and although a Davy Wardrop volley from a cleared corner and a 30 yard bullet from Scott Crawford both went close the deadlock remained unbroken after a half which had produced very few scoring chances.

Twice in the opening five minutes Gleniffer might have taken the lead. Another excellent passing move left Henderson in behind the defence but the home keeper brought off a miraculous save at his left hand post and a minute later a clever knock down by Stevie McKee allowed Henderson another chance but his fierce drive flew an inch over the bar.

Having defended resolutely so far Meadowpark now became the more offensive side, taking control of the midfield and putting the Gleniffer defence under constant pressure where David Wardrop in particular delivered an immense performance and Sean Baird pulled off one particularly spectacular save.

Ten minutes from time Gleniffer paid the price of their failure to find the back of the net in the earlier part of the match. A free kick from the right touchline was delivered into the crowded Thistle area at pace and a flick of the head took the ball through a ruck of players and out of the reach of keeper Baird. Regardless of all that had gone before and what followed after those two seconds decided the outcome of the match.