1993 AGE GROUP

Home Page

 

 

                            GLENIFFER THISTLE  0      INVERCLYDE  0
 
Gleniffer U16 started their first match of the season in an unexpected low gear, lacking drive from the midfield and sharpness in the front line. The frequent turnover in possession allowed the visitors to keep the Thistle defence under pressure in the opening period but keeper Baird was rarely troubled as this line of the home side were in good form, Davy Wardrop winning everything in the air, Scott Bramma tackling anything that moved and Gary Pettigrew, the best player on the field, missed nothing in the entire match.
 
Despite the blank scoreline Gleniffer actually had the ball in the net on four occasions [ yes that does say four] all disallowed for some reason or other- I think one of them might have been offside.
 
In the first half Stevie McKee had a glorious chance to put Gleniffer ahead when he brilliantly controlled a ball dropping over his shoulder but having done the hard part his clever lob over the keeper missed the goal by inches
As the half drew to a close Stuart McKenzie raced away from the half way line into acres off space and as the keeper advanced slid the ball home, disallowed goal number one, and the half finished level and goalless.
 
An early second half free kick on the right driven goalwards by McKenzie and hammered high into the net by the inrushing Jamie Henderson seemed to have broken the deadlock, disallowed goal number two, despite the presence of a defender still hugging the near post.
 
Inverclyde played some neat passing football, kept a good shape and worked hard throughout the match but posed little threat in the final third and if a winning goal was to arrive it looked likely that Thistle would be the scorers.
 
Gleniffer upped the pace from that off the first half but it could still hardly be described as quick and the game proceeded much as before with Alexander Crossan making a few of his trademark runs from midfield, Conor McFadden bringing a super save from the visitors keeper, goal number three was disallowed and Stuart McKenzie missing by not very much with a rasping left foot drive.
 
With only seconds remaining and a single goal sure to take the points, a superbly delivered Scott Morrow free kick found the head of  the unmarked David Morrow and the ball bulleted home from six yards. Disallowed.
 
The final whistle blew and we all went home.
Playing Johnstone Burgh at Linwood next Saturday

 

 

                         JOHNSTONE BURGH 0   GLENIFFER THISTLE  3
 
In contrast to last week's low key performance Gleniffer started this match in a much more determined and positive fashion keeping the home side on the defensive from the off.
Thistle were strengthened by the return up front of Kris Bryson and he and strike partner Stevie McKee buzzed about in the final third stretching the Burgh defence and a grateful Gleniffer midfield poured through the gaps created. Matt McStay, right, and David Morrow, left, had acres of space to play in though poor final ball and the incredible work rate of the Burgh defence kept Thistle at bay until the 20th minute.
Thistle's umpteenth corner of the opening quarter was bundled into the net from close range by Jamie Henderson; not a thing of beauty but it gave Thistle a deserved lead.
Within a minute Gleniffer almost doubled their lead. Goalscorer Henderson took possession from a short corner and lost his marker with an outrageous turn on the deadball line. His chip across the box was volleyed an inch over the bar by Ali Herrington
The pace of the match and grass which was an inch too long, was having its effect on both sets of players and Gleniffer brought on McKenzie and McFadden for the hard working front pair of Bryson and McKee and Scott Morrow in midfield for Matt McStay. The fresh legs maintained Gleniffer's momentum but brought no further goals and the half ended with Thistle one up.
The second period saw a much more offensive Burgh forcing a succession of early corners which were variously headed, punched or kicked clear and a 20 yard screamer which was pushed round the post by a flying Sean Baird
A quick break out of defence by Alexander Crossan saw the Gleniffer captain carry the ball the length of the park, no easy matter through finger length grass, and when forced into the corner he still had the strength to hold off two Burgh defenders before rolling a simple ball back down the line for Scott Morrow to deliver  a perfect cross. Watched all the way by Stuart McKenzie, the striker rose at the back post to nod the ball back across the keeper and into the far corner of the net.
With 30 minutes still to play Burgh had no intention of giving up the contest just yet but try as they might they found Gleniffer's back line determined and Wardrop, Bramma, Pettigrew and Henderson gave nothing away.
Thistle freshened up again bringing on Mark Whittaker up front, David Morrow returned on the right and Jamie Henderson moved into midfield though he finished the match at centre-half after an injury to David Wardrop. Three positions played in the match, excellent in all three and a goal made Jamie a stick on for man of the match and he had a hand in Gleniffer's third and final strike, splitting the home defence with a through ball which was scrambled clear for a corner.
The corner was delivered into the six yard box at pace where David Morrow got some part of his anatomy to it definitely not his hand, and the ball ended up in the back of the net to produce the three-nil final scoreline.
A much improved performance from Gleniffer in all departments, two clean sheets and early season rustiness rubbed away.
 
Next match away to Broomhill S.C. 06/09 Scottish Cup First Round

 

 

                           BROOMHILL  0    GLENIFFER THISTLE  3
 
Gleniffer got their Scotish Cup campaign underway with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Broomhill at the Firhill complex on Saturday and have yet to concede a goal this season. In all honesty they could probably have kept a clean sheet in this match with Sean Baird standing on the sideline as the home side failed to put a single effort on target in the entire match.
Marc Russell, Broomhill's best player by a mile, did manage to crack a late second half free kick off the crossbar but as coach Stuart McKenzie pointed out after the match "the back of the net's the target, not the crossbar".
With Gleniffer enjoying massive possession it was no surprise that practically everything of note happened at the other end where striker Kris Bryson in particular caused all sorts of havoc in the home defense. Combining brilliantly on the right with Matt McStay and on the left with Stuart McKenzie and David Morrow a glut of chances were produced. Bryson might wll have had a brace and McKenzie a third in the opening 15 minutes but being in complete control Thistle tended to over complicate and the eight man defense only just kept them out.
It appeared to be only a matter of time before Gleniffer found the net and the deadlock was broken in the 25th minute. A clever ball in behind from McKenzie picked out Bryson who held off his marker and finished with a low drive. Although Gleniffer continued to dominate they couldn't add to their lead before half time.
Within a minute of the second half they did add a second with what looked like a speculative dipping 35 yarder from Ali Herrington. The home keeper made the error of allowing the ball to bounce in front of him on the synthetic surface and Herrington was as surprised as everybody else to see the ball in the back of the net.
With the tie decided the tackling became a bit tasty and Broomhill were reduced to ten men a few minutes later following a shocker of a tackle on scorer Herrington. The match, which had never contained any great urgency anyway, dropped a notch following the dismissal but Gleniffer managed to finish with a flourish.
McKenzie, now playing at left back, raced away on the flank and although appearing hemmed in by two Broomhill players wriggled free and laid the ball in the path of Alexander Crossan on the burst. Crossan delivered a superb crossfield ball with the outside of his right foot to Scott Crawford who rocketed the ball into the roof of the net from a tight angle.
Gleniffer played as well as they had to without setting any heather on fire. Bryson in cracking form up front, the entire defense in mean mood but pick of the week goes to Jamie Henderson. Nominally playing at right back he turned up all over the field, never wasted a ball, never missed a tackle and still had the engine to carry out his positional duties.
 
Next match away to Renfrew Vics 13/09

 

                     RENFREW VICS  2    GLENIFFER THISTLE 1
 
Two hundred and fifty two minutes played Gleniffer conceded their first goal of the season to Renfrew Vics at Kirklandneuk on Saturday. Thistle made what is rapidly becoming their usual slow start to the game and in the opening twenty minutes were rarely out of their own half. The match was a stop start affair with continual stoppages and Gleniffer were under pressure from a series of free kicks which they dealt with reasonably well until the 12th minute. A deep curling cross to the back post was headed into the net despite Sean Baird getting a hand to it.
If the opening period belonged to the home side the remainder of the half belonged to Thistle. Finally settling they started to pass the ball, supply to the strikers was improved and front men Bryson and McKee tested out the Renfrew defense.
Thistle levelled the match in the 25th minute when the strong running Bryson latched on to a superb through ball from Crossan in the midfield and beat the keeper with a low drive. Two minutes from the half time whistle Gleniffer should have taken the lead contriving to miss a chance from two feet when scoring looked the easier option
Thistle continued to make chances in the second period but also continued to miss them. A couple of rasping left foot drives from McKenzie and an Ali Herrington thirty yarder all brought good saves from the Renfrew keeper, a curling left footer from David Wardrop and a strike across the keeper from Mark Whittaker, both just missing the target.
Renfrew reclaimed the lead ten minutes from time. Having broken upfield and won a corner they took advantage of some slack Gleniffer marking to stab the ball home at the front post.
Thistle put on a late flurry to salvage a point, but just to prove that it wasn't going to be their day, in the last minute of play, three Gleniffer players in succession had the chance to knock the ball into the net from less than a yard. None of them managed it. 

 

 

                                   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.