High five for glenvale

Nov 26 2009 by Paul Behan, Paisley Daily Express

GLENVALE 5 HAMILTON 2

GLENVALE Under-14s gave their best performance of the season to record a magnificent victory over Hamilton at Ferguslie Astro.

The ’Vale were dealt a couple of blows before kick off when goalkeeper Liam McCotter was ruled out for six weeks with a fractured thumb, while midfielder Danny Black was missing through a groin injury.

Glenvale’s game plan in this fixture was to keep it tight early and try to put their opponents under pressure by hitting them on the break.

The Paisley side had stand-in keeper Declan Deans to thank when the youngster managed to keep his side in the game with a couple of excellent saves early in proceedings.

Midway through the first half, midfielder Conor Bradley was unlucky when his shot was turned around the post by Hamilton keeper Jordan Weir.

In the 25th minute, Hamilton went ahead when their striker came in at the back post to get the first goal of the game.

Glenvale’s answer to this came within three minutes.

Striker Martin Milne outpaced the Hamilton defence and fired past the keeper to make the half-time score 1-1.

Hamilton started the second half the stronger team and put Glenvale’s defence of Lewis Mckim, Jack Smith and Jake Crawford under heavy pressure.

Vale’s midfield were also under the cosh, although David Fisher, Kevin Nelson and debutant Josh Houston were always looking threatening.

After 50 minutes, Fulton Arthur found Fisher on the edge of the Hamilton box.

The Glenvale youngster went past four defenders and found Craig Monk in space inside the box.

Just as the striker was about to shoot, he was hauled down from behind in front of goal.

Glenvale were awarded a spot kick, which Fisher placed into the left hand corner.

Referee Billy Adam ordered it to be retaken, though, after spotting Glenvale players in the box.

This time, Fisher blasted the ball home to put his side 2-1 ahead.

Five minutes later, David Macdonald cut in from the left, beat two defenders and cut back for Milne to score his second of the game.

Milne completed his hat-trick after 60 minutes, shooting past the stranded Hamilton goalkeeper.

Hamilton made a late push and pulled one back, only for Milne to score a magnificent fourth when he ran from half way and fired high into the net to give Glenvale a deserved win.

The referee’s man of the match was David Fisher.

Vale’s coaches Jamie Mckim and Steven Kelso were delighted by the performance of their team and praised their full squad.

Glenvale play Giffnock Thistle on Sunday in another league game at Ferguslie.