Will Irvine Meadow XI Keep Going To Title?

On the eve of Saturday the 14th April, Irvine Meadow XI sat in 4th place in the Stagecoach West of Scotland Super League Premier Division a full 12 points behind the league leaders, Petershill. The Peasy would complete their campaign at home to Ashfield while Medda faced an incredible 8 more league games. Yet tomorrow the 'Dow have the chance to win the title with a home game against relegated Largs.

That weekend Ashfield held their north Glasgow rivals to a 1-1 draw and Petershill finished with 43 points  - a real turn around by the team who avoided relegation via the play off last year. At Meadow Park the home side thumped Kirkintilloch Rob Roy 6-1.

It would be a week until Irvine Meadow’s next match – which must seem like a distant dream to the Medda players who have since played at least 3 games a week. However it was Ashfield again playing a part in this title’s destination with a 3-1 home win against the Ayrshire challengers.

The first midweek game in this gruelling run of fixtures was a 2-1 home win against struggling Pollok on Wednesday 25th April. Three days later (Saturday 28th) and it was the New Coin Automatics Cup quarter final at home to Shotts Bon Accord – themselves victims of their cup success this year with a fierce run of league fixtures to make up. A 2-1 win saw another fixture added to Medda’s calendar.

Monday 30th April – and making a mockery of football fitness expert Raymond Verheijen’s call for longer rest periods (http://www.footyplace.com/news/verheijen-calls-for-longer-rest-periods/) - and it was back to league duty with a 4-2 home win over Kilbirnie Ladeside followed by one day off then a 2-0 win on the Wednesday over Ashfield at Meadow Park in the league. Medda were now only 1 point behind Petershill with 3 games to play.

Saturday 5th May – a merciful 2 days rest – and it was the semi-final of the New Coins Automatic cup away to Glenafton who were flying in the Super League First. A hard thought 4-3 win and Meadow were in the final.

No time to celebrate though as Monday 7th brought tough clash at Holm Park to a Clydebank side who had won their last 7 league games. Their 8th win in a row came courtesy of a 3-1 victory. Irvine Meadow XI picked themselves up and on Wednesday beat Maybole away 2-1 in the Ayrshire Weekly Press Cup.

Their seventh game of the fortnight was the final of the New Coins Automatic Cup at Newlandsfield – home of Pollok FC - on Saturday 12th May. Ashfield were the beaten finalists as Medda lifted the trophy following a 2-0 win.

Game number eleven in this sequence was the quarter final of the Ayrshire Weekly Press Cup on Wednesday 16th May against Kilwinning Rangers. Meadow Park bore witness to a 1-0 win for the ‘Dow to take the team into a semi final with Emirates Junior Cup finalists, Auchinleck Talbot.

And so Irvine Meadow XI face their 12th game in 36 days having reduced the gap in the league from 12 points to 1, won one trophy and reached the semi-finals of another. Saturday 19th May 2012 brings a home tie against Largs who are already relegated. If they don’t win or draw (Irvine’s goal difference is 5 better than Petershill) this game there will be the daunting prospect of going to Beechwood looking for something. Talbot might have the Junior Cup final on their minds but are unlikely to roll over for their fierce rivals. There is also the unscheduled semi-final also against Auchinleck to be fitted in so respite is unlikely.

The toll of a game every 3 days on average at the end of a long season must be hard on the players but will the glory of retaining their league championship be enough to drive Irvine Meadow XI on to be the best Junior team in the West of Scotland?

We All Dream of a Team of Ross McCabes

Petershill FC 3 – 1 Kirkintilloch Rob Roy

Saturday 12th November 2011 Stagecoach WOS League Super Premier Division

A strong winter sun burned low in the sky over this top of the table clash between second-placed Petershill and league leaders Kirkintilloch Rob Roy at Petershill Park. With only one point between them at the start of the match it would be the Peasy to comeback from a goal down to leapfrog the Rabs and take top spot in the Stagecoach WOS League Super Premier Division.

This game was an interesting match-up of two differing philosophies. Both teams had struggled in the league last season with the Peasy needing to win a play-off to avoid relegation. Rob Roy changed their management team and the new boss, Jimmy Lindsay (an ex-Petershill player in their successful 1980s team), overhauled the team in the summer to the extent that only 1 player in their starting lineup today was a regular in the team last season. Petershill chose the different route and kept faith with their management duo of Willie Paterson and Scott Smith who in turn have kept their squad of players together with the heart of the team remaining unchanged. However they have managed it both teams have surprised many with their great start to the season.

Petershill were coming off the back of a bitter-sweet week having been knocked-out of the Emirates Cup on the Saturday then winning the Sectional League Cup two days later on the Monday. Such an effort from the players meant that their squad was being tested to the full and six changes had been made from the team that started the cup final. The Rabs also had selection troubles of their own as injuries meant they could only name two substitutes. 

The game started tentatively with Petershill lined up in a 4-4-2 with a diamond shaped midfield – Murch (6) dropping deeper and Green (8) sitting more advanced ahead of him. Up front McGregor (10) would drop deeper while top scorer McGladrigan (9) would make runs off the last defender. Rob Roy started with a 3-3-2-2 shape with their captain, former Rangers star, Marvin Andrews (4) sitting in the middle of 3 centre backs. Midfielder Cairney (5) dropped back to sit in front of the defence in the same line as wing backs McAleenan (3) and McLachlan (7). Two advanced midfielders and the strike pair formed two attacking lines up front. The result was that Petershill’s full backs had a lot of space and time to advance with the ball but the crowded Rabs defence limited their options.

The first half had a few half chances with shots over from Rob Roy’s strikers Mackie(10) and Gormley(9) but McNeill was not tested. Petershill had a lot of the possession but limited opportunities until 26 minutes in and McGladrigan and Andrews chased a through pass down the right hand channel. The Rob Roy defender appeared to clip the Peasy man who went down inside the box right in front of the linesman who flagged for a penalty. The referee agreed and Peasy had a chance to open the scoring. McGregor took responsibility to score at the opposite end from where he’d finished so well from the spot against Beith a fortnight prior. Unfortunately for the home fans his penalty kick was poorly hit and the Rabs goalie, Robertson, guessed the right way to save well - he even held onto the ball.

Spurred on by their keeper’s save Rob Roy duly opened the scoring eight minutes later. Chris Mackie received a pass just inside the Peasy penalty box on the left hand side of the ‘D’. With his back to goal he feigned to his right then twisted back to the left and fired a low drive with his right foot which beat the diving McNeil at his near post.

GOAL Petershill 0 Rob Roy 1 (Mackie 34)

Petershill had just the one chance to respond before half-time when Murch, Green and Palmer (3) combined well in a free-flowing passing move that resulted in Finnigan(11) getting the ball in some space 20 yards out before drilling the shot just wide of the Rab’s left hand post.

HALF-TIME Petershill 0 Rob Roy 1

The crowd was the biggest I have witnessed at Petershill Park with the stand full and plenty of fans from both sides also taking up standing positions around the pitch. The Peasy Ultras were out in force again and were in good voice. I had the opportunity to witness a “noise-off” across the years as the modern Ultras with drums, conductor and singing were pitched against one the Rabs fan’s 1920s style wooden rattler. For sheer noise the rattler was loudest although for longevity the sans-Megaphone Peasy Ultras were much more persistent. They also had added to their repertoire since the Beith game. My favourite was to the tune of The Beatle’s Yellow Submarine:

“We all dream of a team of Ross McCabes,

A team of Ross McCabes, a team of Ross McCabes”

With the verses going like “Number 1 is Ross McCabe, Number 2 is Ross McCabe, Number 3 is Ross McCabe” and so on.

Both teams emerged from the dressing rooms unchanged and would serve up a cracking second half. Rob Roy’s formation was different however. Their right wingback McLachlan now dropped back to be a more orthodox full back with Donnelly (6) moving to left back. Cairney and McAleenan still maintained a line just in front of the defence while Fulton (8) and Easton (11) shifted more to the right than in the first half. It gave the team a strange tilted feel and unfortunately for the Rabs it left McLachlan overly exposed to the Peasy attacks.

Six minutes into the half and McGregor burst through a tackle before a rush of blood to his head made his lash wildly from 35 yards sending the ball high, wide and handsome. However it was a statement of intent from the home side. Although it would be McGregor’s last involvement as he and Green were replaced 2 minutes later by Woods (15) and Dickson (14) respectively.  A switch  of wings for Burke and Finnigan and Petershill started to look much more dangerous. Demonstrated on 56 minutes when Richie Burke showed lovely touch as he dribbled past a few Rob Roy men down the left wing before hitting the by-line. His cross caused a scramble in the box which ended with a the ball being smashed off Dickson’s face from a few yards. The Peasy midfielder was down for a minute before being able to resume.

Rob Roy could have a penalty of their own as a corner on 58 minutes was drifted in from the right there was claims of a push on one of the Rabs’ strikers in the box. The ref waved claims away but Mackie complained too much and found his name being taken for a yellow card. Two minutes later and it was Peasy captain Ryan Jordan who was booked for mouthing off to the ref too.

The game was getting hotter as the air was getting chillier and on 62 minutes Mackie took the ball towards the right hand corner flag with Murch and McCabe following close behind. The striker jumped up in the air with a scream but it didn’t look like any tackle had been made. The linesman was right beside the incident and didn’t see anything wrong as Murch drove on with the ball. Mackie remained off the pitch while the physio looked at him for a couple of minutes. Immediately after however Fulton looked to take retribution himself with a wild tackle on Murch that could have easily been more than the yellow he received.

Sixty-seven minutes into the game and Petershill were level. Burke again dribbled down the left wing and found himself one-on-one with McLachlan on the left edge of the penalty box. The tall winger glided effortlessly round the full back and slid the ball into for McGladrigan to score his 18th goal in only 19 appearances this season. The Peasy striker looks set to break the 20 goal mark that has evaded him in previous seasons.

GOAL Petershill 1 (McGladrigan 67) Rob Roy 1

The home side were now well on top of the game and continued to cause Rob Roy’s defence problems. McGladrigan almost doubled his tally on 71 minutes when his low drive from the right beat the goalie before rebounding off the far post to be cleared by defender.

The second did come 32 minutes into the second half and it will be one that right back McLachlan will want to forget. Finnigan was released in space down the right wing but his deep cross missed both strikers. The Rob Roy man failed to clear at the back post and the ball ended up at the feet of the Peasy number 9 who’s shot was saved well by Robertson but it fell to Woods on the goalline to poke it home.

GOAL Petershill 2 (Woods 77) Rob Roy 1

Three minutes later and Petershill had wrapped the game up as a contest. A high ball upfield was allowed to bounce by Andrews who then failed to deal with it properly allowing McGladrigan to cut across him and advance into the box. He looked up and slipped the ball into the path of the supporting Dickson who swept the ball into the net for Petershill’s third goal.

GOAL Petershill 3 (Dickson 80) Rob Roy  1

Rob Roy were rattled by how quickly the game had turned in the home side’s favour and it could have been worse. McGladrigan again latched onto a mistake in the Rob Roy defence but Robertson saved his left foot volley from point-blank range. Woods then hit the post before Andrews was mugged by McGladrigan who shot when he should have passed. There was just time for Rob Roy almost to get one back in the last minutes when McNeil fumbled a through ball at the feet of Mackie. The Rab’s striker was harried out of the box by McNeil and lack of support meant the danger passed.

Full-Time Petershill 3 Rob Roy 1

The win took Petershill to the top of the league and having played 9 games we are nearly at the half way stage of the Stagecoach West Region Super Premier season. Results went their way with Irvine Meadow XI losing away to Pollok but the Ayrshire team still have 2 games in hand and are still able to go ahead of the Peasy if they win both of those.

With both Petershill and Rob Roy out of the Emirates and WoS Cups earlier than they’d have liked both teams can now concentrate on the league and who knows if they can keep their early form going. One thing is certain that both teams will continue to entertain.

I’ll even stick my neck out and say Stephen McGladrigan will break the 20 goal barrier and the Peasy Ultras will need to write a new song.

Petershill:

McNeil, Hadden, Palmer, McCabe, Jordan, Murch, Burke, Green, McGladrigan, McGregor, Finnigan

Subs: Black (GK), Turnbull, Dickson, Woods, McArdle, Barr, Maxwell

Rob Roy:

Robertson, Carter, McAleenan, Andrews, Cairney, Donnelly, McLachlan, Fulton, Gormley, Mackie, Easton

Subs: J. Lindsay, Lochhead

Petershill FC Turnaround Delights The Peasy Ultras

Two teams in form served up a five-goal feast in Springburn, Glasgow. This West Super Premier League tie was eagerly anticipated and well attended as both sides’ fans turned up in good voice and numbers.

Despite the cold and windy weather (with rain clouds threatening) the stand at Petershill was already home to a noisy bunch of young lads aka the Peasy Ultras. Taking up several rows of seats and accompanied by a drum, megaphone and plenty of flags the boys were already building the atmosphere when I arrived 30 minutes before KO. It was a great positive I took from this game that both teams had a good number of school-age fans and it was brilliant to see so many of the young Beith fans in replica tops. In the words of Whitney Houston – “I believe the children are the future of junior football”.

The visitors lined up in a standard 4-4-2 formation with 3 distinct lines of players. The Peasy also went 4-4-2 but with a few variations to the Cabes. Ryan McGregor, their No10, dropped back into the space between the Beith midfield and defence while both wingers Ryan McArdle (7) and Paul Woods (11) pushed further up the pitch. The central midfield pairing of Jordan Murch(6) and David Dickson(8) would take it in turns to drop back to gather the ball off the defence.

The mismatch in lines meant that Petershill central midfielders were getting more time on the ball and this was demonstrated only 3 minutes in when Jordan Murch dropped into space to collect a pass from his right back. His clipped ball down the inside right channel evaded the head of Beith centre back Mark Staunton(4) and Peasy striker Stephen McGladrigan(9) was clear through on goal. The home team were denied an early opener though as onrushing Beith goalie did enough to force the striker to clip his shot over the bar.

One minute later McGladrigan had a half chance to make amends when he latched onto a loose ball in the box but his shot was blocked.

Petershill’s domination of the early part of this game continued and captain Ryan Jordan (5) could have given his side the goal their play deserved but instead hit the post twice in five minutes. The first was a looping header from a crossed ball from the right that evaded the keeper but not the left hand post before bouncing clear. A second header from a corner by Dickson was more powerful but again the post denied Jordan.

Beith were forced into an early substitution as injury to summer buy from Clydebank, Paul McMenamin (3), meant the left back was replaced by John Craig(19).

The breakthrough arrived on 17 minutes and it was no surprise that the Peasy scored the opener with a very well worked goal. McCardle dribbled with the ball on a diagonal from the right flank across the pitch before his short pass wrong footed the defenders to send Woods to the by-line down the left wing. The winger kept his composure and picked out the run of Dickson who arrived unmarked in the six-yard box to connect with the cross and put his team one-nil up.

Goal Petershill 1 (Dickson) Beith 0

Whether by design or not Petershill changed their shape with McGregor no longer dropping deep but instead they tried repeatedly to hit the ball down the right channel for him to chase. The pass that had set McGladrigan free so early in the game wasn’t working now and for the remainder of the half the play was rather disjointed.

The failure of Petershill to capitalise on their lead was matched by Beith being unable to create any sort of meaningful attacks on their opponents goal.

Or so it seemed until four minuts before half time when Beith launched a dangerous attack with the ball being pinged about in the box a few times before it landed at the feet of substitute Craig who’s fierce drive was blocked by McCardle illegally according to the referee who blew for a penalty kick.

The pressure was on  Kenny McLean(10) who was up to the challenge as he sent keeper McNeill the wrong way to equalise.

Goal Petershill 1 Beith 1 (McLean)

And so having been hardly in the game for most of it Beith went in at half time level and as they were to prove in the second half the wind was in their sails.

Half-Time Petershill 1 Beith 1

Some of my favourite chants from the Peasy Ultras during this half:

“Send your daddy over here” and

“Stevie McNeill shags ten burds a night”

The Cabes came out at half time with a second substitution made – Robert Downs(16) on for Tony Fraser(11). They lined up in a different 3-4-3 formation with right-back Ross Dunlop (2) moving into the middle of John Sheridan(5) and Staunton to make three central defenders. Two wing-backs ran the flanks with a central midfield pairing behind a withdrawn centre forward with two runners up front.

The tactical change coupled with their late equaliser in the first half spurred Beith onto a quick start in the second half as they pinned Petershill back in their own half. And after only five minutes the visitors were 2-1 up.

A free kick from left, just inside their opponents half was launched with purpose into the penalty box. Centre half Sheridan rose well to meet the ball and his controlled header beat McNeill (possibly tired given his heavy nocturnal schedule) and nestled into the bottom right corner. A finish that any centre-forward would have been happy with.

Goal Petershill 1 Beith 2 (Sheridan)

Momentum was very much with the Cabes now and one minute after their goal McLean had a dangerous looking overhead kick deflected to safety. Five minutes later his strike partner Reid (9) almost took advantage of a poor, looped backpass from the peasy left back Stewart Maxwell that had his goalie in trouble. Reid met the ball slightly before McNeil but his headed contact was easily swept away by the covering centre-half, Jordan.

At this point it looked like a third was coming from Beith and they nearly had it on 61 minutes when a cross from the left wing was met at the back post by Calum Hardie(7) who could only look on as his headed attempt met the right hand post.

The game’s fourth goal did come but it wasn’t Beith extending their lead but Petershill who dragged themselves back into the game with a penalty equaliser. Woods took the ball for a dribble down the left wing before feigning to drive inside before cutting outside the Beith defender who’s swinging tackle caught the winger for a clear cut penalty.

McGregor was given the chance to match the feat of his opposite number and he duly sent the keeper the wrong way to score. If he was nervous he didn’t show it.

Goal Petershill 2 (McGregor) Beith 2

It is an old adage that a team is never at its most vulnerable after they’ve scored and so it almost proved to be the case as Beith tore up the pitch immediately after the Peasy’s goal. This time it was McLean who’s sharp turn wasn’t matched by his stinging drive which went over without troubling the goal.

The rest of the second half becamse more frantic as both teams looked to prevent the other from scoring a winner. Substitutions, yellow cards and plenty of free kicks made this period very stop-start.

One of these substitutions was Richie Burke coming on for Woods for Petershill. Whenever Burke received the ball he looked to beat a man and was often successful or brought down. With a slow and easy style of dribbling, the time Burke seemed to have on the ball was a stark contrast to a lot of the frenetic action about him. A strange yet enjoyable aspect to what had become rather stunted period of play.

However there was action and drama still to come in this match as the lead changed for the third time in the game.

Only two minutes from time being called upon this tough encounter Petershill broke down the left hand side on a make-or-break attack. A lofted ball forward found McGladrigan who’s header touched it on to his strike partner McGregor in the centre of the pitch about 25 yards out. Surrounded by Beith strikers the No10 was able to touch the ball through the gap for overlapping substitute Liam Finnigan(17). The sub had made a great surge to support his strikers and was rewarded when he broke through a challenge into the penalty area where he was one-on-one with the Cabe’s goalie. He calmed himself, lifted his head and then drilled the ball past the keeper into the net.

Goal Petershill 3 (Finnigan) Beith 2

The winner – as it turned out to be – was too much for one member of the Beith support who must have said something too strong for the stand-side linesman. The referee was called over but the supporter was leaving anyway.

The game resumed and Petershill weren’t troubled in the final minutes although the same linesman was involved again in injury time when Beith’s Stuart Callaghan(8) was upset by his decision to give a throw in. A few strong words from the Cabes man earned him a yellow card.

Full-time Petershill 3 Beith 2

With this win the Peasy showed that they are a team not to be taken lightly. It is a great turnaround for a team that were last season’s relegation strugglers. The crowds are buzzing, the team is playing well and things are looking up for Petershill.

Petershill

McNeill, Hadden, Maxwell, McCabe, Jordan, Murch, McArdle, Dickson, McGladrigan, McGregor, Woods.

Subs: Black (GK), Burke, Palmer, Barr, Green, Finnigan, Bonar

Beith

O’Neill, Dunlop, McMenamin, Staunton, Sheridan, Hughes, Hardie, Callaghan, Reid, McLean, Fraser

Subs: Robertson (GK), McGrath, Kisuka, O’Keane, Downs, McCulloch, Craig

Auchinleck Talbot 1 - 3 Petershill (21st May 2011)

Match report contributed by murray from the Auchinleck Talbot Forum

With next week’s Scottish final in mind Tucker opted to rest a few first team regulars so the Talbot defence and midfield had an unfamiliar look to it. Talbot had nothing to play for and Petershill had their league survival at stake, and it certainly showed as the Peasies ran out comfortable winners at a rain soaked Beechwood.

The game had a nondescript opening with the strong wind hampering any attempt to play football, and neither side creating anything.

The visitors took the lead in the 9th minute, due to a mis-judgement from Leishman. A long ball down the right wing found MCLAUGHLIN running into space but he was only a few yards in from the touchline and there seemed no imminent danger. However Leishman had come racing out of goals to beat him to the ball, in a contest he was never likely to win, allowing the Peasies striker to knock it past him and tuck the ball away into the far corner of the net from an acute angle.

A minute later and hesitancy in the Bot defence between McCulloch and McGoldrick allowed McLaughlin to nip in and steal the ball just outside the area, and McGoldrick then brought him crashing down, earning himself a yellow card and the Peasies a free kick just left of centre.

McLaughlin hit it himself and drove a shot just over Leishman’s bar but to the surprise of Leishman and the Bot support, the officials said that he’d tipped it over and awarded Petershill a corner out on the right. The ball was whipped over and MCLAUGHLIN was there to meet it, unimpeded, to bullet a header home and make it 2-0.

There wasn’t much happening at the other end and it took Talbot until the 13th minute to force their 1st corner, won by Gillies out on the left. It was taken short to Boyle who played it back to Young and he swung a good cross over to the far corner of the 6 yard box but it was well headed clear, and Petershill then launched a counter-attack of their own. McArdle raced clear on the right and had McGladrigan free in the centre but he over-hit his cross and it went out for a goal kick.

Nothing was going right for Talbot and the malaise seemed to spread throughout the team. With 19 mins gone Collins lost the ball in a dangerous area and McArdle took advantage of the slip to cut in from the left into the area and Robb had to get across swiftly to make the clearance.

Incidents were few and far between and the next attack of any note came on the half hour mark when Robb fired a free kick into the box from the left. The ball was just too high for Collins and briefly it looked as though Davidson was going to get on the end of it beyond the back post but the ball took a surprisingly high bounce considering the heavy conditions, and went over him and out for a goal kick.

Jordan was fortunate to escape a caution on 36 mins for a heavy challenge on Davidson just outside the area. Boyle opted to go for goal but whilst he got his shot up and over the wall, it was an easy take for Black at his left hand post.

A wind assisted Leishman clearance then caught the Peasies defence flat footed and the ball skated off the top of McCabe’s head and went behind for a corner kick out on the right. The delivery was spot on and looked as though it was going straight in but Black did well to fling out an arm to touch it over the bar. The second corner was aimed at the back post and the Peasies defence did well to head it clear.

Two minutes before the break McLaughlin had a chance to make it three and complete his hat-trick. A ball over the top of the defence picked him out in space just inside the area but he took a poor 1st touch and it broke away from him and straight through to Leishman.

The referee was in a lenient mood and having failed to book Jordan earlier, he then let Davidson off the hook when he clipped McLaughlin’s heels.

Talbot ended the half on the attack but had nothing to show for it but two corners in quick succession, neither of which resulted in the Peasie’s keeper being tested, and so the sides trooped off at half time with Petershill two goals to the good.

Tucker opted to make an immediate change at the start of the 2nd half with Mallan coming on for Davidson, and Gillies shifting out to the right.

Talbot came out for the 2nd half with a greater sense of urgency and took the game to the visitors. Within a minute of the re-start Talbot had won a free kick in a good area out on the right but Boyle’s delivery was a poor one and didn’t clear the 1st defender.

A few minutes later and Gillies tried a speculative effort from distance which flew over the bar.

Talbot were presented with another set piece on 50 mins after Jordan had impeded the progress of Boyle. O’Neill took it and fired his shot a couple of yards wide of Black’s left hand post.

Petershill then came close to extending their lead when McGladrigan’s wind assisted shot for the top corner had to be tipped over his bar by Leishman. Petershill whipped the corner into the back post area but there were no players there to take advantage.

With 58 mins gone Talbot made a double substitution with O’Neill and Young leaving the field to make way for McCann and the trialist, McLean.

McLean had an opportunity to make an early impact on the hour mark. Mallan got free down the left and swung over an inviting ball across the face of goal. McLean looked set to meet it at the back post but mis-timed it and dived full length but failed to connect with the header.

Talbot were pressing hard but without really threatening goal and this continued a minute later when the Bot were awarded a free kick just left of centre, outside the area. Boyle curled it into the danger area and the Peasie’s defence could only partially clear it, with the ball breaking for Mallan but he dragged his shot well wide of the right hand post.

Having evaded a caution for an earlier challenge, Jordan now found himself in the book for dissent.

He was soon joined in the book by McCulloch who was shown yellow for a trip on Burke.

Petershill were content to sit on their lead and with Talbot unable to find a cutting age, it was making for a poor spectacle, as Talbot were dominating territorially but nothing much was happening.

With quarter of an hour remaining Talbot forced a series of corners which ended with Collins sliding a shot wide of the right hand post. Petershill now made their 1st change of the afternoon with their goal scorer, McLaughlin, making way for McLeod.

Talbot finally made the breakthrough on 77 mins and it came from a corner on the left. The ball was whipped over to the back post and Gillies was unlucky not to score in his own right, but his header came back off the bar with the keeper well beaten, however ROBB reacted quickest when the ball came back into play to prod it home and make it 2-1.

Petershill now began to wobble a bit and conceded a needless corner on 79 mins when McVittie didn’t receive a shout to leave it, and knocked the ball out for a corner when it was going for a goal kick anyway. The corner was delivered into the near post but was well dealt with by the defence and headed clear of danger.

Gillies then won Talbot another corner with 10 mins remaining, when his shot from 20 yards was deflected wide of target but Boyle’s attempted in swinger was just slightly over hit and no one could get on it, before it sped out for a goal kick.

Petershill now made their 2nd switch with Lindsay coming on in place of Burke who had been struggling with an injury.

The pressure was still firmly on the visitors and Barr had to concede a corner to block McCann’s ball in from the right. Petershill couldn’t cope with the 1st corner and were forced to put it behind again, and when the 2nd corner came over it broke out to Boyle who went for a low drive into the crowded box but it was blocked away off a defender.

With 6 mins remaining Petershill made their final change when Anson came on for McGladrigan.

It was game over after 85 mins when Talbot gifted Petershill a cheap 3rd goal to kill off the game. There seemed no danger as McCulloch went to bring the ball down but he mis-controlled it and it fell into the path of MCLEOD who didn’t spurn the opportunity, racing clean through on goal before slotting it past Leishman to complete the scoring.

As a precautionary move Talbot played the last 5 mins down to 10 men as McGoldrick went off rather than risk aggravating a knock he’d picked up.

With a couple of minutes remaining Talbot nearly fluked a 2nd goal. Connolly fired a cross over from the right and got too much on it and this nearly caught out Black, who had to back pedal and tip the ball to safety.

The closing stages were uneventful and the final whistle must have come as a relief to the soaked Talbot players and fans alike.

Next up it is the Scottish final against Musselburgh at Rugby Park and hopefully Talbot can click back into top gear for it and justify their billing as favourites and bring the cup back to Auchinleck.

Talbot – Leishman, McGoldrick, Robb, McCulloch, Collins, Davidson, Young, O’Neill, Gillies, Boyle, Connolly

Subs – McCann, Mallan, McLean (trialist), Latta, McVey, White, Spence

Petershill – Black, Barr, McVittie, McCabe, Jordan, Dixon, McArdle, Murch, McLaughlin, McGladrigan, Burke

Subs – McLeod, Bonar, Anson, Wallace, Lindsay, McAleenan, McIntyre

Match report contributed by murray from the Auchinleck Talbot Forum

A Game Of Two (Centre) Halves

Petershill FC served up a thrilling encounter with Kilbirnie Ladeside in my first visit to watch the Springburn team. On a wet and sunny Saturday, 23rd April 2011, my quest to choose between Clydebank, Rob Roy and The Peasy would finally give me the chance to experience the third and final team on my shortlist. And it was a cracker.

I arrived early in the car with my missus straight from some shopping to find Petershill Park sitting atop a hill looking like a modern Acropolis. A winding road took me right up to the ground where I jumped out and let my wife take the car away to enjoy her peace and quiet away from me. This Juniors adventure is a win-win situation for us both. What I thought were the turnstiles (sign above said S-U-P-P-O-R-T-E- -S: someone in Springburn has a big red R on their wall) were closed but peaking through the metal fence I checked I was in the right place. I walked back along the road where I had previously passed another entrance with old guys hanging outside smoking. Wondering if this was another entrance I went in to discover a Gym receptionist who politely told me to go back where I'd come from. "Aye, it's the bit at the end wi supporters above it". Biting my lip from arguing that it actually said supportes I left bidding good day. Five minutes of milling about and we were let in.

After paying £5 admission and going through the turnstile - and it was a proper, heavy duty steel turnstile - I was met by a friendly old guy selling programmes for a £1. I bought one and was told it was also entry into the Lucky Number draw - value for money or what? The programme was decent with a handy squad list for both teams that I could mark shirt numbers onto. There was some other good stuff to read in there too including a Blast From The Past section with a match report from a Blasties v Peasy game in 2005.

My first impression of Petershill Park was that the set up was very good. There is a covered stand which has seated areas bookended by large standing, terraced areas. You can also stand on the far side (where the dugouts for both teams were) but as that side was open to the elements which were all of the H2O variety not many took that option. With time to spare and hunger tapping me on the shoulder, looking for a quick word I grabbed a pie (£1.25)and a coffee (£1) and sat up the back of the stand, near the half way line. Both pie and coffee were alright: pie not as good as The Rabs' and coffee not as good as The Bankies'.

As the ground filled around me, the stadium PA kicked in and welcomed the crowd to the game. The announcements were clear, concise and friendly. The team lists were read out - I tried to take a note while balancing coffee and pie - and soon both teams were out on the pitch waiting to kick-off. Kilbirnie Ladeside had brought a good crowd of supporters with them and the stand was nearly full. I had forgone my seat to stand up the back for the game and I had a couple of Peasy fans immediately beside me but the majority around me were away fans. Soon the relegation battle began.

As the rain started to get heavier, Petershill started the game in the best possible manner. Quickly winning a corner on the left hand side, Ryan McArdle (No.7) floated the cross in which centre-half, Ryan Jordan (No.4) rose to power in from 7 yards. The captain looked overjoyed to open the scoring after on 2 minutes. Petershill had struck an early first blow in this relegation fight.

The Blasties were playing a standard 4-4-2 formation with one of their strikers (usually No.10 Mcgregor) dropping deeper while Petershill started with a 4-1-3-2 shape with David Dickson (No.6) sitting deep and centre in midfield, with McArdle and Jordan Murch (No.8) ahead of him right and centre respectively. On the left Richie Burke played higher the the other midfield and saw a lot of the ball in the first half which caused Kilbirnie a lot of problems on the side of defense. As the half progressed Dickson always gave his team a passing option while helping out defensively. It was no surprise that Petershill had most of the ball and most of the chances while Kilbirnie were resorting to long, high balls.

However on 18 minutes one of these long balls combined with a mix up in defense put James Marks (No.9) clean through on the Peasy goal. A fantastic effort was put in by the left-back, Mark McVittie, to get back and put in a fine sliding challenge to deny Marks a shot on goal. Kilbirnie seemed to take heart from this chance though and caused some problems by taking quick corners, free kicks and throw ins. One such chance created required a fine double save from Petershill goalie, Scott Black.

It is worth noting that the rain had steadily grown heavier and was now pelting down. However this wasn't enough to stop a stocky, bald guy who appeared in front of the stand walking a wee scotty dog. He strolled on past oblivious to the game before turning at the far end and wandering back. I don't know who he was, where he appeared from or if the dog had paid to get in but it quite surreal.

The Petershill attack continued to cause problems though with Paul McLaughlin denied by Paul McCann in the Blasties' goal with a smart save following a good pass and run by the Peasy No.9. Soon after this chance with five minutes to go before half-time, Petershill won a free kick on the right hand side, halfway in to the opposition half. Both centre halves went up for it and combined to put the home side 2-0 up. Ryan Jordan again rose well this time nodding the ball down for his defensive partner and Petershill FC Player of the Year 2010, Ross McCabe(No.5) to slam home from 7 yards out.

Half time: Petershill 2 - 0 Kilbirnie with Ryan Jordan standing out in the heart of the Peasy's defence.

At half time I went to get another coffee as the temperature had dropped even though the rain had stopped. The food stand was beside the dressing room entrance and as I stood in the queue the Petershill No.3 came out and sat down against the wall complaining that he was about to faint. I wondered if he'd be out for the second half but he did and was in fact on the pitch about 10 minutes before the rest of his team who also kept Kilbirnie waiting for five minutes for kick off.

This strange event was followed up immediately by the guy in front of me in the queue getting extra sausage rolls for nought because the cook had too many! How I wished I hadn't had the pie earlier when he walked away with a box full of savoury treats.

With the change in seasons - the sun was now coming out - came a change in Kilbirnie's line up and attitude. Kinney and Montgomery (No.12 & 14) were on for Boyd and Eeles (No. 11 & 7) in the hope of giving the visitors a new attacking lease of life. The effect wasn't immediate though with Petershill carrying on where they left off in the first half. McArdle was especially creative and causing problems with some fine dribbling and movement although he did take a clattering for his troubles from Ladeside's McKeever (No.2) who seemed to start his tackle five yards away from the man and ball missing the latter altogether but connecting with the former with a bang that the shoppers in the nearby Tesco Superstore probably heard.

Somewhat against the run of play Kilbirnie striker James Marks scored with header following a cross from the right to give a bit of hope back to Ladeside after 61 minutes. After the goal was scored the away fans greeted the goal with a chant which started deep, rising steadily in noise and pitch before breaking into a song. It sounded great reverberating off the roof of the stand and seemed to give a lift of spirits to their team. All of a sudden Petershill's solid defense looked uneasy and breachable.

And seven minutes later the song started up again as Kilbirnie equalised. This time a horrible back pass from Peasy substitute Kieran McAleenan gifted the ball to the Ladeside striker in the penalty box. With goalie Scott Black out of position the ball found its way back to No.12 Kinney who put it away and set the fans off singing again. It was another soft goal for the Peasy to concede.

The rest of the game and especially the last ten minutes had chances for both teams but the best all fell to Petershill who couldn't find that third goal. On 78 minutes the increasingly impressive Ladeside centre half Peter McMahon (No.5) managed to clear off the line to deny sub McGladrigan a goal which was followed up by another goal line clearance after a free kick from the left hand side this time it was fellow sub Scott Anson (No.17) who was denied. With two minutes to go it was Kilbirnie's chance to grab all three valuable points but Jordan did brilliantly to block a shot on the 6-yard line. The ball broke and Petershill countered down the right hand side. A mix up between goalie and McMahon saw the ball break out to McArdle only 25 yards out with the keeper off his line but his delayed chip drifted wide of the left hand post.

Time was running out and all that was left was for Petershill substitute right back, David Barr (No.12) to clear a long ball away with a facer instead of using his head as is traditional then get booked for a perfectly good tackle.

Full time: 2-2

In the end Petershill paid the price for poor finishing and switching off for the two goals. Kilbirnie Ladeside showed a lack of fight in the first half but their half-time team talk must have worked as they were a different side in the second. Their fans made a lot of noise after the goals - the most vocal support that I've witnessed so far in my task. Both the Blasties' goals came down the left hand side so I wonder if the problems the Peasy left back was suffering from at half time had an affect on his game.

On the way out I nipped into the gents before the journey home. Suddenly I heard a rabble of aggressive shouting - with every second word being selected from a gangsta rap lyrics sheet. I thought it was all kicking off outside but then realised the gents backed onto the dressing room and the home side were getting a hair-drier treatment that Sir Alex Ferguson would be proud of.

The draw wasn't enough for Ladeside who really needed a win in this one but it remains to be seen if it will be enough for Petershill.

PS Congratulations to Auchinleck Talbot and Musselburgh who both made it through to the final of the Scottish Cup Final which will be played at Rugby Park in Kilmarnock on 29th May 2011.

It's one small step for this man, One giant leap into Junior Fitba

Life was good. I thought I had it all - a beautiful wife, home, a car - I even had a job. What else could I need? But there was something missing. I could feel it gnawing away at me from deep within. It wasn't something that I wanted. No, this I needed. For too long I had gone without. The time had come. I needed fitba.

Living in Glasgow with no affiliation to the old firm - thank you mum and dad - gave me a large spectrum of live football to choose from. But how do you choose? In normal circumstances you don't have to - you've been a fan of your club for as long as you can remember, right? However I was a boy hood fan of Leeds United for two reasons. 1. They had Gary McAllister and 2. My dad had Sky Sports. Nowadays neither my finances nor my wife will allow me to travel to Elland Road every two weeks.

So I have a choice.

I also have some criteria to help me choose a team to follow:

1. Cheap entry fee
2. Chance of a beer before, during or after game
3. Terracing (with optional shelter from the Scottish weather)
4. Decent crowd/banter
5. Accessible without a car (see 2 above)

So I rejected the SPL (Motherwell, St Mirren, Hamilton) on criteria 1. The country's premier game is far too expensive for what you get. Criteria 3 put paid to SFL teams Partick Thistle, Queens Park and Clyde as all play in seated arenas. And who wants to sit in a quarter full stand in those uncomfortable, wee, plastic seats with someone's knee in your back while your own knees are under your chin?

Struggling for choices I talked it over with a mate of mine who suggested trying the Juniors. My knowledge of the Scottish Junior game starts and ends with Carluke Rovers i.e. not much. Unsure I dipped into the Pie and Bovril forum (http://www.pieandbovri l.com/forum/index.php/forum/22-junior-football/). I was delighted to find a vibrancy and passion there without much of the dickishness that has seeped into many of the threads I've read on P&B and other football forums.

Another source of great information was the wonderful Non-League Scotland website from Jamie Wire (http://nonleaguescotland.co.uk/). I really couldn't believe the depth and range of Junior Clubs out there. As I took in the photographs of the grounds all the while reading more about the history, the nicknames, the fans of each club the more I became enchanted.

Soon I had a shortlist.

The obvious starting point was the West Region. Armed with my companions Scotrail, Firstbus and Google Maps I plotted out potential teams like a WWII Field-Marshall plotting the downfall of the third reich. Arguably the biggest Junior club in Glasgow, Pollok looked to have a great set up but i discarded them because they've got plenty of fans already. Besides I'd have to take two train or bus rides to get to Newlandsfield. The same reason KO'd Rutherglen Glencairn who's Clyde Gateway Stadium appeared close to me as the crow flies. However on further inspection it would require me to head into the city centre away from the ground before doubling back out to Rutherglen and if there's one thing I can't stand its doubling back.

Being ruthless with my shortlist I brought it down to three potentials : Clydebank, Petershill or Kirkintilloch Rob Roy.

When I was a boy Clydebank FC were a Senior league team (I remember them in the top league and being sponsored by Wet Wet Wet) until 2002 when following a period of decline in their fortunes and after the liquidation of Airdrieonians FC a consortium bought out Clydebank's assets and Airdrie United took over their place in the SFL.

The fans kept going though and a club was entered into the West Region's Central League Division Two in the 2003-04 season. It is a romantic notion for all football fans to have a club run by the fans for the fans so I was eager to see this for myself.

Clydebank FC currently play in the West Region Super First Division and are a team on the up. They attract some big crowds to Holm Park - the stadium they share with their landlords Yoker Athletic FC. Holm Park has terraced standing area all around the pitch with a sheltered stand along half of the pitch - ideal for when the hailstones start. Another welcome feature is a licensed social club which has a bar and windows looking onto the pitch from behind the goals.

Getting there couldn't be easier as there's a 20 minute train ride directly from the station across the street from me. So with a team on the way up and many of my criteria met Clydebank FC look a good choice.

Petershill FC are based in the Springburn area of Glasgow and are also a short train journey away. Currently in the West Region Super Premier League, they play in the newly built (2007) Petershill Park which has a covered seating area as well as standing areas. One possible problem is that the pitch is 4th Generation (4G) astroturf which might affect the way the teams play. I know how badly it affects my five-a-sides game - it seems like there's a bobble every time I go to shoot.

A big plus point is the social club which had the dubious distinction of hearing my father-in-law's singing during the 60s. He tells me he was a cracking goalie in his day and even had a trial with Kirky Rob Roy - their loss was Torrance's gain. My mother-in-law used to serve the pies at the Petershill club which is how she met the big man which I admit gives The Peasy a personal and emotional hook that the others maybe lack.

Talking of the in-laws leads me onto the final shortlisted team, Kirkintilloch Rob Roy. The Rabs are one of the oldest junior clubs in existence being established in 1878 and like the Peasy play in the West Region Super Premier League. It is also a town close to where my wife is from and in-laws still live.

The furthest away and most awkward of the grounds to get to, Adamslie Park does have a certain charm from the photographs I've seen. The Rabs used to have a social club but the council razed it to the ground in 2004. However I know Kirky has a few good pubs within walking distance of the ground. It's a nicer area than Yoker and Springburn so there's less chance of a beating going to and from the games.

All 3 teams have their pros and cons and I'd be a fool to dismiss any of them until I've experienced all three.

And that's what I'm going to do. First stop is Clydebank FC vs Yoker Athletic. Tenants vs landlords in a Central League Cup derby.

You can follow my experiences here as I plan to write about each game, the clubs, the fans, the bovril, the half time entertainment, the match day programme, the ned evasion techniques, the goals, the rain, the mud and everything I'm looking forward to from getting back to fitba.