TOP
GAME
Baillieston Juniors 4
(Boyce, Donaldson, Lalley, Stanway)
Glasgow Amateurs 3
(Whelan, Beattie, Rathey)
set-piece
winner
Baillieston Juniors
picked up a vital three
points over league rivals Glasgow Amateurs in a seven
goal thriller. Both sides needed a win to try and climb up
the West of Scotland under 21’s Premier Division and this
showed on the day with neither teaming giving any less
than their all. Baillieston defended a free-kick well in the
second minute when Kevin Stewart floated a ball in from
20 yards out, The home side then had a chance of their
own just one minute later when Garry Green chipped a
ball through for the on running Richard Robertson but be
couldn’t control the ball and his effort flashed wide.
Baillieston pushed to try and open the scoring and were
unlucky when Gavin Watterson smashed a shot into the
ground and towards goal but none of his team mates could
find the touch in to the back of the visitors net, They also
started trying to use captain Rhys Donaldson’s long throw
to their advantage and the plan nearly worked when the
skippers long shy was nearly turned home by Patrick
Boyce’s header but Scott Ramsey in the Glasgow goal held
well to keep the hosts out.
Glasgow started to apply some of their own pressure
and started to worry Baillieston especially when Kevin
Stewarts magnificently timed pass was took down well by
Kieron McFadden who then went on to have a pop which
has deflected just wide by a Baillieston defender.
Baillieston’s plan of using their little skipper’s long throw
as an advantage eventually paid off when he tossed a ball
in to the area for Patrick Boyce to scramble home after
two of his team mates headers were unlucky and put his
side ahead just on the twenty five minute mark.
Baillieston started well after the restart with some
brilliant play coming down their right flank mostly
between Richard Robertson and Matthew Stanway. The
home team continued to try and use Rhys Donaldson’s
long throw as a way to get inside their opponents box.
Glasgow pulled a goal back with 8 minutes to go when
Luke Whelan received the ball from a throw and caught
his half volley perfectly resulting in his effort flying past
the Baillieston goalkeeper. Just before the half time break
Glasgow came close twice to adding another after a goal
line scramble resulting in the Baillieston keeper finally
as reported by Ford McGhee.
capturing the ball then big striker Robin Zirwes volleying
firing just over the bar.
Both sides went in level at half time knowing that any
team could win this game in the second half.
Half/Time : 1-1
The second half wasn’t short on drama and it smart just
how the first ended with lots of chances the best one
coming through Baillieston striker Patrick Boyce who’s
fired just an inch over the bar. Ballieston eventually added
their second soon after but when a fantastic ball in from
out wide was headed home by Matthew Stanway who
looked delighted to get on the score sheet.
The goals didn’t stop there either as not long after
Glasgow added a second with a brilliant finish from Ryan
Beattie then the home side again going in front 1 minute
later when Kevin Lalley chipped the keeper and ended up
injured in the process of adding Baillieston’s third goal.
Glasgow pushed and pushed for yet another equaliser
to try and keep hope in the game and their hard work
eventually paid off with 15 minutes to go when Iain Rathey
rattled home a stunning free kick from just outside the box
to send the Glasgow touchline wild.
Just when it looked like there could be no more drama
in this game with 4 minutes remaining Baillieston won a
free kick 30 yards out on the right hand side, they pushed
nearly everyone up except their goalkeeper and one
defender.
The ball was floated in with great height and pace
and was met with a glancing header at the back post by
the Baillieston skipper Rhys Donaldson who was almost
certain that he had won the game for his team after his
header ended up in the away teams goal.
After what looked to be the winning goal Baillieston
defended their goal with their lives and held on to secure a
vital three points.
Full/Time : 4-3
Issue # 1 | YFS Magazine | 63