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Saturday 12th September

Gleniffer Thistle 2 - 5 Carlton YMCA

Thistle took on Carlton in this first round Scottish Cup tie at The Kibble, but for The Jags, this year's competition was over before it really began.

Carlton took the lead on the stroke of half time in controversial style, their player putting the ball in the net from an indirect free kick, which the referee awarded as a goal.

Andrew Hume headed home a Jack Fulton corner five minutes into the second half to draw the scores level. Carlton did well to restrict Thistle to shots from distance. Dylan Brown started his first game this season and was getting up the wing from his right back position well to put some dangerous balls into the box and support the attack.

Carlton went ahead after heading home from close range and they were awarded a penalty which they also converted.

Carlton went on to score a further two, very well taken goals, making the most of some slack Gleniffer defending. A late spot kick from Max Rosie brought to a close the scoring. Everyone who was at the match will remember the game for months to come.

Gleniffer Man of the Match : Dylan Brown

Saturday 19th September 09

Gleniffer Thistle - 7

Port Glasgow - 0

After the disappointment of defeat in the Scottish Cup, the Under 13's got back to league business with this match at KG5 in Renfrew. It was to be a match which they dominated from start to finish and the emphatic score line flattered in no way at all.

The Jags got off to a great start and Max Rosie almost scored with a chance straight from kick-off. However it took until the 10th minute before they could make the breakthrough, and it was Rosie who got the goal. Jack Fulton's corner was accurate and Rosie smashed the ball in off the underside of the bar from twelve yards out.

Gleniffer made hard work of things after this and although they had all the possession couldn't break down the Port defence. This was to change though as Jack Fulton picked the ball up 25 yards from goal and sent a cracking drive into the top corner of the net after 25 minutes. An early contender for goal of the season! Fulton then went on to grab another with a shot from outside the box before Rosie got his second after he tore the Port Glasgow full-back to shreds before firing in off the post.

Coming out for the second half with a four goal lead didn't stop Thistle from piling on the pressure, and it wasn't long before Lindsay Inch scored with a brilliant half volley from the edge of the area. Substitutes Blair Smith and Ally McNaughton went close for Gleniffer, with centre half Andrew Hume providing a constant threat from set pieces with his presence in the box. Lindsay Inch then got his second of the game when he scored a similar goal to his first attempt. And Jack Fulton lobbed in his third of the match to complete the scoring.

A strong performance from The Jags to keep up their good start to the league season. Man of the Match: Jack Fulton.

Gleniffer's Under 13's recorded a comfortable victory with a dominant performance on a very windy day at Moredun.

A change in formation saw The Jags line up with a 4-5-1 set-up, recalling Ewan Gilchrist to the side in midfield, Aidan Higgins returned to the defence, and his twin brother Conor lead the line as the lone striker.

Thistle made their intentions clear from the kick off, putting The Row under pressure from the start, but finding the Goalkeeper in good form. However the breakthrough was to come when Conor Higgins was tripped in the box and a penalty was awarded. Max Rosie converted the kick.

The scoreline was increased when Max Rosie went clean through and when his shot was well saved by the keeper, Conor Higgins followed up to smash home the rebound.

Harmony Row got back into the match when they scored with a direct free-kick, but Gleniffer were quickly on the front foot again despite the difficult conditions. Jack Fulton's corner was cleared out of the box by Harmony Row, and central defender Andrew Hume stepped onto the loose ball to hit an unstoppable shot into the top corner from fully 35 yards out. And Hume was involved in the next goal, again picking up the clearance from a corner, and when his shot was turned onto the crossbar by the keeper, Blair Smith followed up to head home, making the half-time score 4-1 to The Jags.

The second half started as the first ended and the lead was increased when Conor Higgins rounded off a neat team move with a confident finish. Max Rosie then notched his second goal, converting after a defence splitting pass from Jack Fulton. Ian Campbell and Mohammed Jammeh went close for Gleniffer before Martyn Crowe wrapped up the scoring after he was set up by Lindsay Inch.

No Man of the Match was awarded as this was an excellent team performance from back to front, and a dominant display throughout.

Gleniffer slipped to their first defeat of the season against a Rosshall side looking for their first win.

Things got off to a bad start for Thistle before a ball had even been kicked as a trio of strikers were ruled out through illness. Conor Higgins, Ian Campbell and Mohammed Jammeh all pulled out of the squad, forcing a re-think of match tactics, with central defender Andrew Hume deployed as a lone striker.

Hume was unfortunate not to put Jags ahead with two headed efforts, and Josh Crawford went through but could only shoot over the bar. These missed opportunities would come back to haunt them as Rosshall went up the park to take the lead after a good passing move. It was clear that the change in tactics wasn't working with players playing out of their usual positions for Thistle, however after further changes; Lindsay Inch went through to grab a well taken equaliser against the run of play. Rosshall had the better of the first half exchanges and Gleniffer were happy to go in at the break level.

It was clear though that Rosshall were fired up and played some nice football throughout, and their efforts were rewarded when they re-took the lead with a shot from the edge of the box. And the lead was extended with 10 minutes remaining as a striker chipped Goalkeeper Ciaran McKean from a tight angle.

This seemed to spur Gleniffer on and they enjoyed their only real spell of dominance in the match, and Lindsay Inch got his second goal with a volley to reduce the deficit with five minutes left. Inch almost grabbed an equalizer with seconds to go, but his attempt was blocked 6 yards from goal and Jack Fulton went close with a free-kick.

Having pushed so many players forward trying to get the leveller, Gleniffer were left exposed at the back and Rosshall made the most of two breakaway chances in injury time, giving the score line a more one-sided look. In truth Rosshall were the better side and well worth the three points on the day. Gleniffer Man of the Match: Ross Armstrong.

After tasting defeat in the league for the first time last week Gleniffer's under 13s were keen to get back to winning ways in this home tie played at KG5.For the second week running, Thistle had to pick a side from a reduced squad, with no less than five players on holiday during the October week, and striker Conor Higgins still missing through injury. This was not to hinder them too much though as they notched seven goals in a match for the third time this season.

It was a slow start to the match for The Jags however, and Cherrie looked more likely to break the deadlock. The tide turned though when Ian Campbell scored from long range to grab his first goal of the season. Team captain Darren Muldoon then got his first of the season with a well placed shot from Aidan Higgins' cross. The lead was extended when Jack Fulton's effort slipped through the keeper's hands into the net, and Campbell got his second when he slotted past the keeper, getting on the end of an accurate through pass by Fulton.

Cherrie were given some confidence when a penalty was awarded and converted after a foul in the box by Andrew Hume.

The second half got off to a better start for Gleniffer, with Fulton dictating play in midfield along with Andrew O'Donnell, and the scoreline was increased when Fulton's corner was deflected into the net by the Cherrie goalkeeper. Mohammed Jammeh, Josh Crawford and Ally McNaughton saw chances pass before Campbell completed his hat-trick after robbing a defender of possession and beating the keeper from the edge of the box. Man of the Match Campbell proved to be a nuisance for the Cherrie back line throughout, and a number of dangerous crosses into the box from him were almost converted. Gleniffer's scoring was completed when another Fulton corner was headed into his own net by a defender.

The spirited Cherrie side didn't take defeat lying down and fought back to grab two late consolation goals, both coming from direct free kicks, allowing their captain to complete his hat-trick. The win for Jags, coupled with other results in their league, moved them up to second place in the table with two games-in-hand over leaders Clyde.

The second half started in a similar fashion to the first, but Gleniffer were being restricted to shots from long range, with Jack Fulton and Lindsay Inch trying their luck. But it was Parkmoor who took the lead, against the run of play, as they stole possession from a Glens throw-in, and after working the ball forward, the striker's miss-hit shot decieved Ciaran McKean to find the net. The lead was doubled for Parkmoor soon after, with a quick counter attack finished off in style by the big striker after a solo run. Thistle got back into the match immediately, when Conor Higgins volleyed home from the edge of the box. Darren Muldoon was denied a certain goal by a brilliant last ditch challenge, and as time ran out Thistle threw everyone forward, but Blair Smith's volley from inside the box went agonisingly wide and the Parkmoor defence held on to see the match out.

Gleniffer's Man of the Match was Ross Armstrong.

Saturday 14th November

Under 13s

Parkmoor BC 5 - 2 Gleniffer Thistle

Gleniffer's under 13s were beaten by Parkmoor for the second league game in a row in this match played at Park Mains School in Erskine.

The game got off to a great start for The Jags, when Jack Fulton gave them the lead direct from a corner kick. Thistle were making the most of the wide playing surface with some slick passing moves allowing them to break through the Erskine side's defence. However the physical edge that Parkmoor had over the Jags was soon to tell as they started to impose themselves on the game. And they were level when a cross from the left wasn't held by Jags keeper Ciaran McKean and the attacker volleyed home.

Thistle re-took the lead on the 20 minute mark as Fulton got on the end of Aidan Higgins' cross and lifted the ball over the keeper. However the lead was to be short lived as almost immediately a cross-cum-shot eluded everyone in Gleniffer's backline and floated in at the back post.

After half time Gleniffer continued to play some nice football, but the direct style of Parkmoor was catching the Jags' defence out, and they took the lead with 20 minutes to go. Parkmoor went on to grab a further two goals from set-pieces, leaving Gleniffer desperate for opportunities to hit back, and Andrew Hume and Lindsay Inch went close before the game fizzled out, giving Parkmoor a vital three points.

Gleniffer Man of the Match: Lindsay Inch.

Sunday 15th November

Under 13s

Linwood Rangers 0 - 3 Gleniffer Thistle

Thistle took to the pitch for their second match of the weekend desperate for a win against an unbeaten Linwood side.

It was to be a match which they dominated from the start, with stand in goalkeeper Conor Higgins only having one real save to make. This was largely due to strong performances at the back from Darren Muldoon, Ross Armstrong, Andy Hume and Man of the Match Josh Crawford.

Gleniffer went close through Ian Campbell and Andy O'Donnell, but Linwood's keeper was in top form in the first half. It took until the last five minutes of the half before Thistle took the lead when Blair Smith headed home from Jack Fulton's corner kick.

The second half started brightly for the Jags and it wasn't long before the lead was doubled when Lindsay Inch scored with a brilliant volley from 25 yards. Jonny Madigan was then introduced to the game, with the defender being deployed as a striker, and his impact was immediate as he latched onto O'Donnell's pass, burst clear of the defence, and hit a powerful shot which the keeper could only push into the net. This was to be the end of the scoring but Gleniffer continued to create chances with some excellent passing play, and the win was well deserved.

Gleniffer Man of the Match: Josh Crawford.

Saturday 06/02/2010

Gleniffer Thistle 2-0 Linwood Rangers

Gleniffer Thistle Under 13's took to the field for their first league match of 2010 against Linwood Rangers at Seedhill.

The Jags got off to a bright start, with strikers Lindsay Inch and Ian Campbell keeping the Linwood defence on their toes. Jack Fulton was pulling the strings in midfield, making a number of telling passes, with Max Rosie and Andy O'Donnell providing a constant threat from the wings. In an early flurry of chances and corner kicks, Thistle saw Inch, Campbell, Ally McNaughton and Andrew Hume all denied by good goalkeeping by Linwood's number 1.

However it was Ian Campbell who got the first goal of the match after 10 minutes. From a Linwood goal-kick Max Rosie headed the ball back towards the goal and Campbell burst clear of the defence to latch onto the ball before blasting low past the goalie. This was to be the only goal of the half, but not the last of the chances with Hume, Inch, Fulton and Darren Muldoon all going close before the break.

The second period continued in the same pattern as the first with Gleniffer dominating proceedings, however the hard working Linwood team were making it difficult for The Jags to break through and create any real chances. Lindsay Inch went very close with two long range strikes, one which went narrowly wide and another which smacked the post.

With only a few minutes remaining, Thistle were given the perfect opportunity to extend their lead when Conor Higgins was tripped in the box and a penalty was awarded. Max Rosie stepped up to take the kick after a short delay due to a dispute about whether the ball was fully on the spot.This seemed to upset the winger as his tame effort was easily saved by the keeper. Linwood took heart from this and immediatley broke upfield and as their striker darted into the box he was deemed to have been tripped and a penalty kick was given. Again, the referee wasn't happy about the ball being on the spot and after further disputes the kick was finally taken. Jags' keeper Ciaran McKean, who had been a virtual spectator for the entire match, proved that despite this he was still alert and produced a fantastic one-handed save to keep the kick out.

Direct from his save, McKean gathered the loose ball and quickly sent a long punt upfield which Andrew Hume got onto the end of. Hume went on a mazy run, taking on four defenders before hitting a shot that the keeper did well to save. However, Lindsay Inch was on hand to follow up and smash home the rebound to put a more comfortable look on the scoreline in the last minute.

Saturday 13 February 2010

St Andrews 1-3 Gleniffer Thistle

Thistle's Under 13 side travelled to Greenock for this important league match against a strong Saints team.

They were dealt a blow however after team captain Darren Muldoon pulled out of the squad before the match through illness. Jonny Madigan deputised at right back, with Blair Smith filling in at left back. This was the first time Smith had ever played in defence, but he went on to scoop the Man of the Match award with a fine performance.

The Jags started brightly, using a 4-5-1 formation to cancel out the St Andrews threat from midfield. Conor Higgins was deployed as the lone striker and his boundless energy kept the Saints rearguard on their toes throughout the match. The central trio of Andrew Hume, Jack Fulton and Lindsay Inch were controlling the game from midfield, playing some nice one touch football to leave their opponents chasing the ball. And it was this combination that lead to the first chance of the match. A neat passing move allowed Fulton to release Max Rosie down the left wing, and his early cross was inches away from being finished off by Conor Higgins. The next big chance fell to Higgins aswell, with the cross this time coming from Andy O'Donnell on the right. His first time pass found Higgins unmarked, but he couldn't get the ball under control first time and in the end, was forced to rush his shot.

Thistle didn't have to wait long for the first goal though, and what a goal it was! Another pass from Jack Fulton found Lindsay Inch in acres of space, and rather than running forward into the space with the ball, Inch hit an unstoppable shot on the half volley from 30 yards out which flew past the diving keeper into the top corner of the net. To their credit, Saints came back at Thistle quickly. Goalkeeper Ciaran McKean tried to put a long kick upfield, but he miss-hit his attempt allowing Saints to pick the ball up in midfield. A simple pass behind the defence sent the striker clear, and despite the best efforts of Ross Armstrong, the ball was bundled past McKean and into the net. Moments later St Andrews thought they had taken the lead with a breakaway chance but as the shot came in, Ally McNaughton got back to clear off the line.

A half time substitution was made as O'Donnell limped off to be replaced by Ian Campbell, and this change had a big impact on the second half. The physical presence of Campbell upfront coupled with the pace of Higgins was unsettling the St Andrews defence, and it was this pairing that brought the chance for the second goal for Thistle. Campbell took the ball from the left-back before lifting it over the defence for Higgins to chase. As the ball bounced the Saints goalkeeper came out of his area and clattered into Higgins, earning him a yellow card and a free kick was awarded on the edge of the box for Thistle. Up stepped Blair Smith to curl in a brilliant effort which clipped the underside of the bar on it's way into the top corner of the net, restoring Gleniffer's advantage.

The scoring was wrapped up 10 minutes later when the goalkeeper dropped the ball under pressure from Campbell, and Higgins latched onto the attempted clearance, drilling the ball home. There was still time for further efforts from Max Rosie and Martyn Crowe to be saved by the goalie, and all-in-all this was a great performance from Thistle.