WHAT’S NEW

Dave Houston is probably enjoying his best season since returning to play in the modern era. Eight goals conceded in thirteen matches, eight clean sheets and never losing more than two goals are indicators of a top quality defence. Scoring goals, however, has been a problem but tonight Houston managed a convincing 3-0 victory over John Halpin. Often accused of slow play, Houston’s first goal was a swift passing move down Halpin’s exposed right side followed by a deadly acute angled finish. Houston was now set up for a comfortable win.

 

 

The last league meeting between Houston and Dave Gladman ended goal-less. Tonight, after their second clash, they have now managed 60 minutes without a goal. That is not to say that both players did not have chances. They did, but in a hard fought match, good goalkeeping and poor finishing kept the scoreline blank. Houston now moves up two places into fifth. It was Gladman’s sixth draw of the campaign, probably damaging beyond repair his hopes of finishing third.

 

 

Tonight saw the first action in the Association Cup. Tom Burns has a good scoring record against Baver Bari and with a 3-1 half-time lead it looked as if Burns’ free-scoring would continue. But his finishing deserted him in the second period and it was Bari who pulled it back to 3-2. With no further scoring the match ended with a much tighter margin than might have been expected.

 

 

League

 

Halpin	0	3	Houston
Houston	0	0	Gladman

 

Association Cup

 

Burns

3

2

Bari

 

 

Tom Burns increased his lead over Dave Butler to 12 points, the latter having five games in hand. Burns, however, wasn’t celebrating as that increase was only one point as he secured a last minute equaliser against Ronnie McKenzie. McKenzie has done well against the top players already, going down 2-1 to Burns earlier in the season and managing a 0-0 draw against Dave Butler. So it shouldn’t have been much of a surprise that he had taken a 2-0 lead at half-time. McKenzie has recently changed from Sureshot to DST bases and the better control this has given him has allowed him to dominate the ball much more. McKenzie’s second match was against Dave Gladman, another player who is able to hold possession for long periods. McKenzie took an early lead but Gladman levelled before half-time. Both players added a goal in the second half, this time Gladman going ahead and McKenzie equalising.

 

Burns drops points

 

Willie Fleming moved above Ronnie McKenzie in the league after gathering 4 points this evening. Fleming had much more of the play in his match against John Halpin and more attempts at goal. Halpin, however, was more direct and opportunist. Twice Halpin was ahead at 1-0 and 2-1. At 2-1 Halpin was extremely careless with a defender’s flick which allowed Fleming to quickly shoot into an open goal. This was the turning point of the game and it was Fleming who secured a 3-2 victory.  If Fleming created many opportunities against Halpin, he created few against Dave Houston. It has to be said also that Houston created even fewer. Sometimes 0-0 draws are exciting with lots of shots and saves and creative play. Not this one. Nevertheless, Houston’s goals conceded column is still in single figures, something shared with only Dave Butler and Barry Corr. But the number of goals he has scored is the second lowest in the league.

 

Controversy!!

 

 

The first season in the league is always a difficult one. For Fraser McKenzie it’s a season for gaining experience and starting to be competitive. It will be many years before McKenzie will have the experience of his first opponent this evening, Dave Houston. Houston was in no mood to be merciful, leading 3-0 at half-time and adding another in the second period. In his last encounter with Colin Berry, McKenzie managed a 2-2 draw. This time, however, Berry made no mistakes and ran out a comfortable 3-0 winner. It was, in fact, Berry’s first win of the season and with games in hand over the three players above him he must hope to climb a little higher.

 

 

League

 

Fleming	3	2	Halpin
Houston	4	0	McKenzie F
Fleming	0	0	Houston
Burns	2	2	McKenzie R
Berry	3	0	McKenzie F
Gladman	2	2	McKenzie R

 

 

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After the near full attendance last week, only six players turned up to play this evening. In their first league meeting earlier in the season Tom Burns beat John Halpin 4-0. But Halpin is a much tougher proposition now and he made Burns work hard for his 2-0 victory only sealing the win with a final minute goal. That Halpin is the most improved club player this season was further confirmed in his match against Dave Butler. It was into the second half before the league champion made the breakthrough. Two 2-0 defeats for Halpin but with both matches being against the club’s top two players, it’s a good measure of Halpin’s progress.

 

 

 

With Dave Butler only playing one league match Tom Burns moved further ahead in the title race. In a first half which was littered with mistakes from both players Burns could manage only one shot on goal. Neither player was at his best but Burns did improve in the second period and was able to twice find the net.

 

 

 

 

Baver Bari had beaten Dave Gladman in their two previous encounters. In the first half Gladman scorned several opportunities but the best chance fell to Bari who shot wide with an open goal gaping. Gladman controlled most of the second half maintaining possession for long periods and finally managing to convert two shots.

 

 

 

In Group B of the Glasgow Cup Dave Butler beat Dave Gladman 3-0. It was a fairly even first half but Butler led courtesy of a very fine goal. It looked as if Butler was about to lose possession but a superb long pick-up set him up perfectly to chip in from an acute angle. At the beginning of the second half Gladman held possession for about five or six minutes but despite forcing two corners his play wasn’t quick enough to create clear opportunities. Butler, on the other hand, had no such difficulties and was able to carve out two further quality goals. Gladman has now played all his group matches and must wait for other results to see if he will qualify for the semi-finals.

 

 

League

 

Halpin	0	2	Burns
Butler	2	0	Halpin
Gladman	2	0	Bari
Burns	2	0	Day

 

Glasgow Cup

 

Butler

3

0

Gladman

 

 

 

 

There was an excellent turn-out tonight with eleven players attending. Tom Burns’ goals against column was increased from 6 to 8 by Baver Bari but unfortunately for Bari he allowed the Burns’ goals for column to go up by 7! Bari started well, took an early lead and had two good opportunities to score again. With Burns missing a couple of chances perhaps a shock was on the cards. Or perhaps not. Burns was to find his shooting boots and add considerably to his goals tally.

 

 

 

Only two players, Dave Butler and Barry Corr have a realistic chance of overtaking Burns in the title race. Corr has already beaten Burns. Corr had to work hard for his four points tonight. He narrowly defeated Dave Houston who spurned a glorious opportunity to draw level at 2-2. Houston played the ball into an empty net, Corr’s goalkeeper having lost possession. Inexplicably Houston failed to notice one of his players in an offside position. Against Gladman, Corr lost an equalising goal with only 30 seconds remaining. Corr took the lead midway through the first half with a fine strike. Gladman dominated possession throughout the match but it was only in the final minute that possession was converted into a goal. The Corr defence had been drawn to the right side leaving a gap on the left which Gladman was able to exploit with a quick movement.

 

 

 

Dave Butler is now 8 points behind Tom Burns but with three games in hand. Barry Corr is three points back but with a further game in hand. This was after Butler’s two comfortable victories, in the end, against Ronnie McKenzie and Colin Berry.

 

 

 

If Willie Fleming had aspirations of catching the leaders, they took a severe dent tonight. John Halpin was able to breach the Fleming defence after only a minute’s play and then, a minute later, Halpin, taking advantage of the no-flicks rule at a free-kick, scored again. Halpin added a further two before half-time. Fleming steadied the ship and there was no further scoring in the match. Fleming came back with a two-goal victory over Colin Day another player who will have to look to cup competitions for possible silverware.

 

 

 

In the Glasgow Cup, Dave Houston came back into qualification contention after a 3-0 win over Baver Bari. A draw against Ronnie McKenzie may prove sufficient.

 

League

 

Fleming	0	4	Halpin
Houston	1	2	Corr
Day	0	2	Fleming
Corr	1	1	Gladman
Butler	3	1	McKenzie R
Burns	7	2	Bari
Berry	0	4	Butler

 

Glasgow Cup

 

Houston

3

0

Bari

 

Other pictures from the night.

 

 

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Outside, the tennis courts were unplayable due to the covering of ice. The subbuteo pitches were, of course, ice-free but only six players turned up to play on them. Cold temperatures may have contributed to low turn-out but plenty of heat was generated in the few matches which were played. Two matches in group A of the Glasgow Cup saw qualification for both Tom Burns and Colin Day at the expense of Willie Fleming. Fleming played well against Burns and did not deserve to lose the match. Burns led 1-0 at half-time having scored against the run of play. Fleming equalised early in the second half. The goal was scored amid some controversy, Burns claiming that Fleming’s figure had shot with its fourth flick. The referee sided with Fleming. Burns’ winning goal came right at the end just after Fleming himself had claimed four flicks against Burns. The referee was deaf to the Fleming plea.

 

 

Unfortunately Fleming did not recover from the blow of losing to Burns and in his second Glasgow Cup match succumbed to Colin Day by 3 goals to 1. In Group B Dave Gladman was able to strengthen his qualification chances with a 2-0 victory over Dave Houston.

 

 

Only one league match was played with Dave Houston edging out Ronnie McKenzie with the only goal of the game.

 

Glasgow Cup

 

Fleming	1	2	Burns
Day	3	1	Fleming
Gladman	2	0	Houston

 

League

 

Houston

1

0

McKenzie R

 

As Fleming and Houston headed out into the cold night air, the remaining four played out a round robin from which Gladman emerged as winner.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Only four matches were played this evening, two in the Glasgow Cup and two in the League. We saw the return of Dave Butler who played in the two league matches. Signs of rustiness were in evidence and he dropped two valuable points against Ronnie McKenzie. No goals were scored and, in truth, the McKenzie goalkeeper was ‘man of the match’. Dave Butler often finds it difficult against Baver Bari and tonight’s match was no exception. Bari always posed a threat to the Butler goal and was in the match up until near the end but Butler secured victory with a goal in each half.

 

League

Butler	0	0	McKenzie R
Bari	0	2	Butler

 

In Group A of the Glasgow Cup, Colin Day managed to edge out John Halpin by a single goal. Day now joins Tom Burns on seven points. Willie Fleming is still to play. In Group B, Baver Bari had victory over Dave Gladman by 3 goals to 1, his second win in a row over Gladman. Bari, Gladman and Ronnie McKenzie all have three points after two matches.

 

Glasgow Cup

 

Day	1	0	Halpin
Gladman	1	3	Bari

 

 

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The first club night of the New Year saw a rather disappointing turn-out of only seven players. Three games were played in Group A of the Glasgow Cup. Two victories for Tom Burns gave him a big step towards qualification. First up against Burns was John Halpin. Burns led 1-0 at half-time and thought he should have been two ahead but the referee chalked off a ‘goal’ for a free kick. But there was no fightback for Halpin as Burns added two second half goals to his tally.

 

 

Burns’ second victory was even more comfortable, a 5-0 win over Colin Berry. Burns’ remaining game against Willie Fleming will be crucial. A win for Fleming and a draw between Fleming and Colin Day could see Burns eliminated.

 

 

 

 

Colin Day kept on track for qualification although he found it difficult against Colin Berry. The only goal came in the second half after a period of sustained Day pressure.

 

 

 

 

Glasgow Cup

 

Group A

 

Halpin	0	3	Burns
Burns	5	0	Berry
Berry	0	1	Day

 

 

Only two league matches were played both involving Fraser McKenzie who continues to improve. He lost out 4-1 to dad, Ronnie with the scoreline rather flattering McKenzie senior. Fraser then played Dave Gladman who looked to be in control of the match at 2-0. Then McKenzie scored to make it a nervous last few minutes for Gladman.

 

 

 

 

 

 

League

 

McKenzie F	1	4	McKenzie R
Gladman	2	1	McKenzie F

 

 

Dave Gladman now moves into second place ahead of Barry Corr but Corr has several games in hand. Meanwhile Ronnie McKenzie moves up three places into fourth.

 

 

 

Play was displaced into the main bar area because of the bar staff’s Christmas party. The first games of this season’s Glasgow Cup were played and the four matches produced an astonishing 23 goals! Two games were played in each group. John Halpin and Colin Berry drew 4-4. Halpin had a golden chance to seal victory right at the end. Berry’s goalkeeper had given away possession but Halpin, with the goal gaping, could only hit the post. Tom Burns and Colin Day shared 6 goals equally. Twice Day went two goals ahead at 2-0 and 3-1 but Burns pulled it back to 3-2 just before half-time. The second half had just started and Burns was level. Day had lost out to Burns in their earlier league match again after having a two goal lead but this time neither player was able to find a winner, both perhaps being a little more cautious than in the first half.

 

 

 

 

 

In the other group Ronnie McKenzie played two matches. First up was Baver Bari. McKenzie scored first and led until three minutes from the end. Bari’s equaliser drew the attention of the whole bar as we saw and heard a fine demonstration of the Bari goal celebration. But it was McKenzie who then took advantage of Bari’s lack of concentration to score and take the three points. McKenzie was quick off the mark in his next match against Dave Gladman, scoring after 2 minutes. But Gladman equalised only a minute later and he went on to show some clinical finishing in a 5-1 victory.

 

 

 

Glasgow Cup

 

Group A

 

Burns	3	3	Day
Halpin	4	4	Berry

 

Group B

 

Bari	1	2	McKenzie R
Gladman	5	1	McKenzie R

 

 

In the league Tom Burns took an early lead against Dave Gladman who had given the ball away at the kick off. Gladman hit back straight from his second kick off but it was Burns who scored twice to take a 3-1 half-time lead. Gladman held possession for most of the second half but could not find a goal, allowing Burns to stretch his lead at the top of the table.

 

 

 

 

Fraser McKenzie continues his improvement and he collected his first points of the season by drawing with both Colin Berry and John Halpin. McKenzie found it tougher against Baver Bari although he was only a goal down at half-time. This was Bari’s fourth league win in succession and he moves further up the league.

 

 

 

 

 

 

League

 

Burns	3	1	Gladman
McKenzie F	2	2	Berry
Halpin	0	0	McKenzie F
McKenzie F	0	4	Bari

 

Finally, on behalf of GTSA, John Halpin wishes everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!