1999 AGE GROUP

 James Fisher Defence http://www.jfdefence.com/

Under 14 League Match                                                                                                                                                                                          Gleniffer Thistle 5 Clydebank 1

Gleniffer Thistle 1999s played their first ever competitive match as the new season got underway at Abbotsinch playing fields. Clydebank were the visitors and coming out of the close season break each team looked a bit rusty early on, both guilty of trying to hit too many long balls. As the game settled Gleniffer scored first when Euan Lyle passed between defenders for Michael McDevitt to convert.  Minute’s later marauding fullback Kris Alexander dribbled nicely past two players into the box only for a defender to pull him down with a mistimed sliding tackle. Gleniffer captain Lee Dickie converted easily from the spot hitting the ball low and hard into the corner. Clydebank were still pressing and often Daniel McKean was relied on to break up their quick counter attacks. McDevitt then grabbed his second after an excellent dribbling run and pass in from the right by last year’s player’s player of the year Taimoor Ahmad. Clydbebank raised their game again this time getting a reward for their efforts when Alexander was caught dribbling the ball in his own box and in his scramble to win it back ended up giving away a penalty. The second half saw a stronger performance from Gleniffer building on the work of Drew Munro who repeatedly broke up Clydebank attacks on the half way line. McDevitt settled any nerves when he grabbed his hatrick. Gathering the ball at the edge of the box he dribbled past the right back then cut inside, beating two more to hit a curler beyond the diving keeper. New boy Jordan Ingram then had the touchline shaking their heads in disbelief as he fired by after doing well to break free. Normally reliable Dickie was also guilty of missing when clean through as he shot straight at the goalkeeper. Moments later he made amends latching on to a pass from Ahmad and this time he wheeled away leaving the ball nestling in the far corner. Clydebank to their credit continued to press the game but found Cameron Lyle, switched into centre half, able to mop up. The final chance came from a well struck free kick by Nathan Crawford which fell to Lewis Harding. Finding room in the box he caught the ball on the volley but unfortunately his well timed strike slipped just past the right post. It looks as if the sideline will be wanting more settled play in the weeks to come but a five one win on the first outing in a competitive league was fair reward for the teams efforts

Under 13 League                                                                                                                                                                                                     Broomhill 4 Gleniffer Thistle 5

Gleniffer Thistle 1999s visited Parklea down by the Clyde to play Broomhill boys club on a gray autumn evening. The Gleniffer players looked wary in the early stages as they tried to get to grips with the bulk and height of a few their opponents. Unfortunately before they settled they were a goal down when a slightly off balance shot sailed over the keeper Jack Jamieson and caught the underside of the bar. Gleniffer began to settle into their passing rhythm and as the pressure built carved out a few chances. Broomhill defended stoutly until Nathan Crawford picked up the ball inside the box, dribbling past two defenders to the bye line where he crossed to the back post for Lewis Harding who was waiting to knock it in. A few minutes later Taimoor Ahmad made a goal for himself dribbling in from the left wing to round the keeper in style. Unfortunately moments later he also had hand in Broomhills equaliser, sticking out a leg to deflect a shot past Jamieson into the net. Shortly after the break Jamieson who was having very solid match in goal went up for a cross but on the way down his knee bumped the ball out of his hands. Of course the ball fell straight to an opponent who prodded it in. Broomhill had barely finished celebrating when Gleniffer drew level. Straight from kick off Crawford played a through ball that the defender and goalkeeper tried to deal with but pressure from Michael McDevitt caused a poor clearance allowing Cameron Lyle to curl the ball into an empty goal from 25 yards. Repeated breaks down the left by Lyle and Kris Alexander saw more chances and the desperate defence conceding a number of corners. A Lyle corner was punched out only as far as Lee Dickie who controlled the ball instantly and struck a perfect left foot volley into the top corner. Broomhill were now pressing harder and the game swung end to end. Drew Munro and Daniel McKean, switched back to his usual role in the centre of defence, were managing most of the attacks. A shot from the edge of the box dropped into the six yard box and in the ensuing melee the ball bounced right for a waiting Broomhill player to chip it in at the post. Only ten minutes left and once again the game was even. The Gleniffer players kept pushing for the win but didn’t make a clear chance until Dickie broke clear of the last defender. Sprinting in on goal his shot was saved by the keeper but McDevitt was following his run and struck the rebound into the corner. Broomhill had a few long shots in the last moments of the game but that was the last of the goals and Gleniffer just about deserved their win.

Under 13 League                                                                                                                                                
Gleniffer Thistle 2 Cherrie B.C. 1

The home team started brightly and straight from kick off a flowing move got them to the edge of the opponent’s box. There the Cherrie sweeper stepped in to break things up and clear. This was to be the story of the next fifteen minutes with Gleniffer having the majority of play only to find an obstinate defence giving up very little in the way of clear chances. Michael McDevitt was then put through a couple of times but couldn’t shake off the sweeper’s attention to get a clean shot away. Cherrie’s sweeper was playing very well, often in the right place to win the ball, before launching counter attacks. Fortunately Drew Munro in the heart of defence for the home side was having a great game too. As half time approached you could see the Gleniffer sideline getting agitated about not converting the pressure into chances so of course Cherrie were first to break the deadlock. A well flighted corner landed in a ruck of players at the edge of the six yard box and a blue shirt rose to meet the ball. A great header sailed past Jack Jamieson into the net: one nil Cherrie. A short time later the ref blew half time and the animated Gleniffer coaches tried to reorganise the team.

The second half continued in much the same vein with Gleniffer pressing but Cherrie proving more than a match and causing problems when they hit on the break. Taimoor Ahmad was everywhere for Gleniffer but they lacked quality in the final ball. The pressured Cherrie defence gave up a free kick outside the box but Nathan Crawford’s strike, aimed at the top corner, was well saved. Cherrie continued to hit back but Cameron Lyle was obstinate at centre half and Peter Lochans, in goal, sorted out anything that did get through.

The clock was winding down to the last five minutes and the Gleniffer sideline was beginning to look resigned to the loss when debutant Neil McIntyre found space on the left to hit a perfectly weighted pass through the inside left channel to Euan Lyle. The Cherrie sweeper wasn’t there for once and Lyle glided left to slide his shot by the keeper and into the waiting net. It looked as though Gleniffer had grabbed all the points when Crawford latched onto a bouncing through ball and lifted it up over the keeper. The ball was in the air for an age before it came down but the team turned away in disappointment as it bounced off the top of the bar. The game was now end to end and the referee was looking at his watch when Gleniffer won a free kick out on the right. A poor kick didn’t clear the first line of defence but unlucky for Cherrie the defensive clearance dropped for Lee Dickie. He had played steadily throughout the game, but if there was anyone the team needed the final chance to fall to it was their captain. A sharply struck half volley from the edge of the box sliced through the crowd of players to bounce in off the far post. There was one more Cherrie attack to endure but the delighted home team celebrated as the final whistle sounded. The despondent Cherrie players had worked hard to earn something and their sweeper was a potential man of the match but it was Gleniffer who just about deserved their win.

Under 14 League

Gleniffer Thistle 5 Pirie Park 4

A dominant second half display from Gleniffer Thistle under 13s was enough to secure the league points at a sodden Abbotsinch park on Saturday morning. Pirie Park contributed to an entertaining game with parents and coaches complimenting both sets of players at the end.

Gleniffer started brightly and were ahead within two minutes. A wonderful flowing move of two touch passing carved open the defence for Neil McIntyre to shoot from the edge of the box. A good save from the keeper broke to Nathan Crawford who hit the bouncing ball down and beyond his despairing dive. Pirie Park lifted their game, keeping the ball well and Gleniffer couldn’t find the quality and rhythm of the early stages. The balance of the game had shifted and soon Pirie Park were ahead. A fine move and shot from the right brought the first goal and the next came from a through ball. Beating the defenders for pace the striker placed a first time shot well beyond keeper Jack Jamieson. Gleniffer kept working but could only manage a few shots from the edge of the box. Pirie Park then made it three during a goalmouth stramash as the defence couldn’t clear the ball effectively, presenting an opportunity from only six yards.

At half time the coaches’ adjustments and words of encouragement seemed to make a difference as an invigorated Gleniffer team emerged. The energy and intensity of play meant there was less room for Pirie Park and eventually the pressure paid off. The ball was carried down the left by McIntyre, sweeping a pass into the middle where Craig McKee knocked it on for Lee Dickie to convert. Dickie then picked up the ball just beyond half way and drove at the heart of the Pirie Park defence. His dribbling skills carried him past the defenders and another well struck shot made it three all.

Pirie Park caught Gleniffer on the break to make it four three but the heads didn’t go down.  A great run from right full back Kris Alexander saw him carry the ball past four defenders to the by line though the cross wasn’t converted. There were a few long range efforts, then a cleanly hit volley from Crawford that the keeper saved with his face before a central pass slipped McKee in for a shot. He slid it nicely under the keeper but the ball was slowing up on the wet ground. In the scramble Gleniffer midfielder Lawrence Lee was quickest to react and made sure from a yard. Moments later Gleniffer got back in front when a free kick by Jordan Ingram was spilled by the goalkeeper into the path of the ever alert Taimoor Ahmad to bang home.

The last ten minutes saw Gleniffer make a number of squandered chances. McIntyre was constantly attacking from full back and one mazy run had the defenders turned inside out. Bursting into the box a desperate lunge brought him down for a clear penalty. The normally reliable Dickie placed a shot carefully to the right but it bounced off the post. Mcintyre then started moves down the left that lead to Mark Brady firing straight at the keeper and Euan Lyle hitting wide. In the dying moments another fine shot from Dickie whistled passed the left post.

Gleniffer Thistle, at least in the second half, began to look as if they were hitting fine form. It was a great fight back from being behind at half time and the coaches will be hopeful this will be the platform for even better play in the next games.

Under 14 league                                                                                                                                                                                                              Cherrie B.C. 2 Gleniffer Thistle 3

It’s impossible to do justice to this exciting hard fought contest between Cherrie and Gleniffer Thistle. Playing against each other for the third time already this season Cherrie were determined to avenge the two earlier one goal defeats.

Gleniffer started the brightest playing through midfield and their first goal came on five minutes but a bit out the blue. A speculative ball into space encouraged Sam McKinnon, starting his first game of the year, to run on and his first time strike from 18 yards whistled in. This settled them down and they showed excellent possession football over the next ten minutes. Cherrie hit on the break and the header from an excellent cross looped past the post. At the other end McKinnon had a shot blocked on the line immediately followed by a counter attack and Cherrie shooting just by. Euan Lyle and Neil McIntyre were working hard to keep the left side organised defensively and a number of attacking forays were unlucky not to come off. At last Lyle found himself with the ball in space but electing to strike a through ball released McKinnon who beat the keeper at his near post for two nil. Moments later another move down the left resulted in the ball finding its way to Lee Dickie ten yards outside the box. He still had five defenders grouped in front of him but driving straight for goal he emerged through the defence and coolly slotted home for Gleniffer’s third.

The next goal would be key and it was Cherrie centre forward who latched onto a central pass, survived a last ditch tackle and fired towards the left post. Keeper Jack Jamieson got a hand on the ball but couldn’t stop it going in. In the few minutes before half time McKinnon hit the post then Cherrie almost gave up an own goal when a goal line clearance struck a Cherrie player but bobbled past for a corner.

This was an excellent first half from Gleniffer but after the break Cherrie gained a slight wind advantage out they came out very fired up for the second half. Straight away they had a chance that went just beyond the post. Then a number of attacks saw central defenders Drew Munro and Daniel McKean tested but managing to hold firm. Gleniffer were not generating the same attacking play but McKinnon did see a long range effort hit the post. As the pressure built Cherrie won a corner and the well flighted ball gave a free header from six yards that was well finished. Cherrie were in the ascendancy and it wasn’t long before another through ball was chased down and converted. Gleniffer were only creating the occasional chance by now and looked like they were grimly holding on for a point. Yet it turned out to be Mckinnon’s day as he grabbed a hat trick and the winning goal. Finding him self free on the right he picked up the ball and blasted it into the far corner with only minutes to go. Cherrie looked deflated and didn’t have time to pick them selves up before the final whistle.  It finished four three to Gleniffer and they maybe just shaded this on the strength of their first half performance. As well as the scorers and central defenders perhaps special mention also required for the hard working Taimoor Ahmad in midfield and tenacious tackling of full back Kris Alexander. Overall an enthralling match with McKinnon’s three goals the highlight. 

Under 14 League                                                                                                                            

Beith 3 Gleniffer Thistle 1

Something had to give in the encounter between Gleniffer Thistle 1999s and Beith. Both teams entered the match as the last two with 100% wins in the league section played on the side of a hill that is Beith Juniors stadium pitch.

The game started at a cracking pace and Gleniffer had the first chance after a minute. A corner swung in from the right fell to Sam McKinnon but his swivel and shot slipped by. Minutes later he was put through one on one but the keeper bravely dived at his feet to save. Beith then swept up the park and switching the ball from right to left the winger found space to strike home from just inside the box. Both teams had chances before Beith went two up when both centre backs missed the chance to clear so the Beith centre forward gather it in, ran 30 yards and slipped it under the diving keeper. Jack Jamieson then had another great save diving at full stretch low to his left. Gleniffer were working hard, making chances but not getting the ball on target. Then Nathan Crawford and Neil McIntyre combined down the left to force a corner. Crawford swept it in to Lee Dickie at the near post who smartly shielded the ball and laid it back out. Crawford steadied himself before hitting a swerving ball that dipped in front of the keeper and skipped into the corner. Moments before half time it was almost level when Dickie hit a crisp shot across goal to the far post but it missed by inches.

In the second half Beith had the advantage of the slope and really dominated the game. Gleniffer to their credit applied themselves to the task but were forced deeper as the game went on. Cameron Lyle and Kris Alexander were solid and McIntyre at left back was a brick wall even clearing one off the line. Gleniffer had to withdraw the tireless Euan Lyle and composed centre midfielder Daniel McKean through injury. Eventually the tiredness and pressure had to tell but they held out until after 30 minutes when a cross wasn’t cleared properly leaving the forward with an easy side footer from six yards. Gleniffer then had their best move of the second half as close interlinking play between six players moved the ball down the left then over to Dickie in the centre but his shot went the wrong side of the right post.     

Beith remain unbeaten and are the last team with a 100% record. Gleniffer were disappointed at the result but had played their part in a great game of football. Surely Gleniffer will be looking forward to their next match especially if they can build on a very solid performance. 

Gleniffer Thistle had the last two matches cancelled and were desperate to get back playing again. The match against Quarriers United was being played over at King George V parks who survived the late inspection. In spite of the keen appetite to play the game didn’t live up to expectations as the lay off seemed to adversely affect Gleniffer’s normal passing game.

The first fifteen minutes saw the ball mostly in Gleniffer possession without creating many clear chances. Quarriers were defending stoutly and crowding the ball effectively. Then in a four minute burst Sam McKinnon hit his second hatrick in as many games. The first came from a Lee Dickie through ball that McKinnon chipped calmly over the keeper. Number two came from a corner when the defensive clearance was headed back into the danger zone by Ciaran Connolly for McKinnon to hit a powerful volley on the turn. McKinnon hit his and the teams third when sweeping in a shot on the turn from another Nathan Crawford corner.

This should have settled Gleniffer but Quarriers raised their game. Fortunately Cameron Lyle was playing a great game as last man and broke up many of the attacks. The few shots on goal found the safe hands of Jack Jamieson. Two further Dickie shots, both from Crawford passes, were all Gleniffer had to show until the 25^th minute when Dickie scored the fourth goal with a well struck shot from the edge of the box. Quarriers persisted and were very unlucky not to reduce the deficit when the ball first hit the post then was scrambled off the line by Lyle. It wasn’t a great first half but the advantage lay with Gleniffer.

Whatever the coaches said at half time fell on deaf ears as the quality of football played by Gleniffer worsened. The first period of the second half they only had three shots of any note, though Euan Lyle did hit the bar, with Quarriers were snuffing out most of the play and finding more attacking opportunities. Twenty minutes into the second half and changes to the centre half pairing, when the ever reliable Drew Munro was taken off for a rest, caused the uncertainty Quarriers needed and they grabbed two quick goals. A rapid reshuffle was required but losing the goals made the team edgy until Michael McDevitt hit a bouncing shot that the Quarrier’s keeper didn’t handle well and the ball trundled into the corner. Gleniffer struggled to the end and in the last few minutes Dickie managed to hit the bar again.

West Regional Cup Game 12 November 2011

In football, especially cup ties, the match provides the platform for heroes to emerge from the ranks of players. The fiercely fought West Region cup tie between Gleniffer Thistle and Southside United was characterised by a few players the contest turned into heroes.

Southside were ahead inside five minutes when a well constructed left wing move ended in misplaced clearance producing a well place shot into the corner. Gleniffer hit back and had a series of shots from Lee Dickie that the keeper tipped over. Southside were creating chances too and on twenty minutes were two up from a headed corner. The rest of the half was constant Gleniffer pressure making enough chances to win at least two games but Sam McKinnon in particular was guilty of squandering clear cut opportunities. As half time approached Nathan Crawford struck a free kick from left wing. The half shot, half cross eluded the defence and bounced past the keeper into the far corner.

The second half saw Gleniffer quickly draw level when a Kris Alexander dribble and pass released McKinnon again. It was defended but the ball fell to Neil McIntyre who hit a firm shot with the outside of the left foot into the near corner. Thereafter Southside had most of the play and quite a few chances. Jack Jamieson, in goals, with centre backs Cameron Lyle and Drew Munro worked tirelessly to stem the flow. Lyle was having a great game but Gleniffer were still under pressure with Southside dominating and time slowly running out. In the final moments a rare attack saw Dickie put McKinnon through once again and at last he converted, blasting the ball high into the net to make it all square and put the match into extra time.    

Once again Southside went ahead when the right winger toe poked the ball in from close range. Gleniffer got back on equal terms once more. Crawford found another defence splitting pass for McKinnon, his shot was saved but the ball dropped to Dickie to pass into the corner. Toward the end Jamieson had one more great save, diving right and holding onto a shot that he must have seen late when it came through a group of players.

Penalties. Each team converted and missed until Southside had the chance to win the tie with the final penalty. The ball was well struck rising high to the right but as the players were thinking goal a leaping Jamieson managed to get a hand to the ball, pushing it onto the bar where it bounced out to safety. McIntyre stepped forward purposefully and scored. The Southside players spent a little while sorting out the next penalty when at last one brave sole emerged. His nervousness was clear as he  walked forward. The ball was hit high to the centre but Jamieson had read it well and stood his ground to make an easy catch. As one team celebrated the other was despondent and one young player was distraught as coaches from both sides tried to console him.