1995 AGE GROUP

Just a couple of photos from Prague in May 2008

Gleniffer Thistle 5 Erskine Utd 1

The under 15s got the new season off to a great start on a wet and windy summers evening. Glens went ahead on the 8^th minute when Tam McGaughey broke free of his marker and his 18 yard shot gave the oncoming Erskine keeper no chance. 15 minutes gone and Mark Hewitson scored from a corner on the Glenny left after the Erskine team failed to clear the ball properly. Wee Connor Macdonald scored his first of the season after some clever play down the visitors left hand side saw the ball played through by Nathan Aird into the path of Macdonald who hit the ball low past the keeper. Front man Donald Thomson got on the score sheet on the half hour mark after some good lead up work on the Gleniffer right.

The second half saw the weather deteriorate and some way word passing, but a Donald Thomson shot was deflected past the keeper to make it 5 – 0. As the game was coming to an end Erskine scored what seemed to be a consolation goal.

Hillwood 2 Gleniffer Thistle 2

The under 15s travelled to Nether Pollok Park for this away game. Hillwood who have not had the best of seasons so far were well organised and hard to break down. It took until the 20^th minute before the deadlock was broken,Tam McGaughey picked the ball up on the Glens left hand side and crossed the ball into the box. The ball travelled over the keepers head and into the back of the net. Honest tam admitted afterwards that it was not a shot at goal but indeed a cross. Hillwood pulled one back nine minutes later after the visitors lost the ball in midfield.

The second half was much the same as the first with Glens having lots of possession but without creating much in front of goal. Nathan Aird put Big Connor Macdonald through and he lobbed the oncoming keeper to make it 1 – 2. But within minutes some poor defending allowed the home team to draw level.

Under 15 Scottish Cup 1^st Round

Gleniffer Thistle 2  Ardencaple 0

The boys will play Port Glasgow on the Saturday in the league and Erskine on the Sunday in the Scottish Cup

Under 15 Scottish Cup tie

Gleniffer Thistle 3 Erskine BC 3

3-3 aet

Gleniffer won 4-2 on penalties

A great day for this second round cup tie with only the wind spoiling the game. The home team with the wind at there backs were first to score. 8 minutes played and Wee Connor Macdonald played a ball through to Big Connor Macdonald who lobbed the oncoming Erskine keeper to open the scoring. On the 15 minute mark it was wee Connor who opened up his account when he dispossessed a defender and hit his shot over the keeper. The game was frantic and Erskine had there chances to but found keeper Ben Stevenson in fine form. On the 25^th minute a free kick on the Glens left was headed home by the Erskine forward. This spurred the jags forward once again and Big Connor side footed the ball past the keeper to make the half time score 3-1.

The second half saw the visitors come more into the game and they created chances which the Glens defence managed to deal with. It took until the last 20 minutes for Erskine to take advantage of the possession that they had, a quick throw in on the Gleniffer right was lobbed over Ben Stevenson and in at the back post. Erskine also had the ball in the net but the goal scorer was deemed off side. With 10 minutes to play Erskine drew level and at this point it seemed that the home team were struggling to hold on. With minutes to go it was Tam McGaughey who went through for Glens and only had the keeper to beat but as he went round the keeper he over ran the ball and extra time was looming.

Not much happening in extra time and the game was going to be decided by penalties.

Erskine were first to take the penalties which keeper Stevenson, saved. Andy Guthrie placed his corner well away from the keeper. Stevenson then saved the next Erskine spot kick, while wee Connor Macdonald placed his well into the corner. Erskine then scored there third penalty and Tam McGaughey scored the Glens third. Erskine scored with there fourth penalty and it was left to Alan Purvis to step up and put his penalty into the net and the home team through to the next round.

Under 15s League match

Girdle Toll 1  Gleniffer Thistle 1

This match was played on astro grass at Kilwinning. Two evenly matched teams but it was the visitors who came close to open the scoring. An Aaron trench corner kick curled in and hit the bar, but this was cleared by the home defence. Twelve minutes played and a 30 yard shot from Mark Hewitson hit the bar and went behind for a goal kick both defences were on top and chances were limited to long range shots which both keepers handled well.

The second half was still tight and it looked as if mistakes were the only way that goals would be scored. Big Connor Macdonald hit a long range shot which the keeper fumbled into the net. Girdle Toll came back into the game and scored due to a Gleniffer player not being tight enough on the forward thus resulted in a goal. The introduction of Matthew Fender nearly resulted in another goal for Glens, Nathan Aird played the ball through for Matthew to lob the oncoming keeper but his 20 yard lob was just cleared off the line by a quick thinking defender. The game finished 1-1 and was a great advert for football.

Under 15 League match

Gleniffer Thistle 4 Harmony Row 5

On a very bumpy pitch at St. James's both teams produced plenty of chances. Gleniffer opened the scoring on the 12th minute when big Connor Macdonald picked the ball up on the Glens left hand side he then went past the defender and hit his powerful shot towards the keepers near hand post to open the scoring. Four minutes later and Matthew Fender headed the ball over the center half for Macdonald to lob the oncoming keeper and put the home team two up. All seemed to be going well until Harmony Row were awarded a very soft free kick near the home teams penalty box, the resulting free kick ended up in the back of the net. This seemed to spur on the visitors and once again the break went with the visiting team, when the Glens defence stepped out in a line the standing Row forward took advantage and evened up the score. Just before half time Glens were in front again this time some clever work by Matthew Fender got him his first goal of the season.

The second half of the game opened up in the same style as the first, end to end with both keepers having to be on there toes. Harmony Row pulled the score back to 3 all, and then went further in front after some poor defending. Not to be out shone Big Connor scored his third and Gleniffers fourth to draw the game level. Again Harmony Row getting the benifit of the off side rule went ahead again. Gleniffer piled on the pressure and were unlucky not to score again with the chances that were created. The luck seemed to change when Matthew Fender was brought down in the box and Connor Macdonald stepped up to hit the spot kick. His shot was saved twice by the keeper. Luck seemed to run out and for the home team but well done to the visitors who took all of there goals well.

Langcraigs 1 Gleniffer 8

It took Glens until the 23^rd minute to finally beat the Langcraigs off side game and open the scoring. Big Connor Macdonald opened the scoring after timing his run and slipping the ball past the out coming keeper. Macdonald scored his second three minutes later when he headed home a Tam McGaughey cross from the left hand side. The first half scoring was completed when Matthew Fender broke free on the right and went one and one with the keeper, Matthew knocked the ball round the keeper and went on to score the Jags third.

Second half goals from Matthew Fender, Danny Kavanagh, Aaron Trench, wee Connor Macdonald and Alan Purvis completed the Jags scoring. Langcraigs got a very late consolation goal.

The team play Rossvale next week in the third round of the Scottish Cup.

Under 15 Scottish Cup 3^rd Round

Gleniffer Thistle 3   Rossvale 3

From the start Glens took the game to their opponents and came close through Matthew Fender, and Tam McGaughey but both failed to find the net with their efforts. The visitors scored first from a corner with a Rossvale heading home at the near post unchallenged. Glens finally made a breakthrough when Matthew Fender beat the offside trap and lobbed the ball past the keeper.

The second half saw Rossvale have more of the ball in the early stages and again scored from another corner only this time the ball came through to the back of the box and was put into the net unchallenged. Things went from bad to worse when Defender Alex McFarlane slipped as he went for the ball  this allowed the forward through to volley the ball past Keeper Ben Stevenson.

The last 15 minutes seemed saw a big push from the young Jags towards the visitors box. Matthew Fender again timed his run to hit a left foot shot past the keeper to make for an interesting end to the game. With eight minutes to go Aaron Trench drove his corner kick into the Rossvale box and the ball broke to wee Connor Macdonald who slammed the ball home for an equaliser. With minutes left on the clock big Connor Macdonald seemed to be upended in the box by the keeper but the referee waived away the strong claims from the home team for a spot kick. A great game of football and the replay will be on the 15^th of November at Huntershill Park Bishopbriggs at 10.00am.

Next week the team plays Rangers SABC

West Region Cup

Gleniffer Thistle 3 Rangers SABC 5

On what was a very poor performance by the team goals from Tam McGaughey 2, and Danny Kavanagh brought some credibility to the scoreline.

Under 15 League Cup

Gleniffer Thistle 2  Hillwood 3

It was the home team who took the lead on the 17^th minute when Tam McGaughey broke down the Gleniffer right and his shot was struck low past the keeper from the 18 yard box. The visitors were not shy at coming forward and were causing problems down the Glennie right hand side. The equaliser came ten minutes before half time when a low cross was struck high into the Gleniffer net. Glens were having the better of the play with Connor Macdonald and Nathan Aird passing the ball well in the midfield area.

Two evenly matched teams were serving up lots of good passing play but it was Hillwood who went in front after some poor defending in the Glennie ranks. Matthew Fender came close on a couple of occasions before he got himself on the score sheet after Nathan Aird put him through with an accurate pass giving the keeper no chance. Fender should have scored again but his effort was turned round the post. With five minutes left to play Hillwood broke down the Glens left and a well struck cross found a forward all alone at the back post who headed home from short range.