Match Report - Whitletts v Yoker
WHITLETTS VICTORIA 4 YOKER ATHLETIC 1
A rousing half time team talk from manager Steph McMillan woke up slumbering Vics as the Ayr side stormed their way into the last eight of the Scottish Junior Cup for the first time in 32 years!
In front of crowd in excess of 300, the Dam Park side failed to find any fluency in a dire opening 45 minutes but the tough talking from boss McMillan saw a totally different Whitletts side appear in the second half to blow away the Superleague side.
Whitletts tried to play football but found the going difficult in the heavy conditions and the Glasgow outfit had the better of a poor first period. Better in terms of possession but neither goalkeeper was tested until Yoker snatched the lead in the 41st minute. There appeared to be absolutely no danger as Ryan Frew picked the ball up 35 yards from goal but his thunderous left foot drive gave Jordan Callaghan no chance as it screamed past the Vics keeper into the top corner of the net.
However Whitletts had other ideas after the break and in the 55th minute were back on level terms. From a Tony Balfour corner kick, Lee Holland rose to send a looping header over Yoker keeper Craig Winslow and despite the best attempts from John Harvey to clear the ball off the line, the standside linesman had no hesitation in running back towards the halfway line to award the goal.
Within four minutes, the Ayr side had totally turned the game on its’ head. As Balfour worked his way into the box, his shot was blocked by Winslow and fell kindly for Shaun Allan who swept the ball into the net from eight yards.
The momentum was now with the home side. Yoker boss John Brogan made a number of changes to try and get his side back into the game but there was now no stopping this Vics machine and in the 63rd minute they increased their advantage. Mick O’Connor latched onto a Derek McCulloch pass down the right and his low cross picked out Balfour who took a touch before firing low past Winslow.
Five minutes later the game was over as a contest. Again a ball into the box picked out Balfour and although his first effort was blocked by the Yoker keeper, the Whitletts striker reacted quickest to fire low into the net for his tenth goal in this seasons Scottish Cup exploits.
Whitletts continued to press forward and Elliot Duffy almost made it five after a mazy run into the box left him in the clear but his shot was saved by the outstretched foot of Winslow.
With ten minutes remaining, Steph McMillan decided to hold onto what he had as he replaced replaced Balfour with defender and club skipper Graham Longair and the little striker received a standing ovation from the Whitletts fans as he left the park.
Yoker pressed to the end in an attempt to get back into the game but couldn’t breach the home defence that was superbly marshalled by the outstanding Derek McCulloch as Vics booked their place in the quarter final draw for only the third time in the clubs’ 70 year history.
Whitletts Victoria
1. Callaghan 2. Simpson 3. Lawrie 4. McCulloch 5. Buchanan 6. Holland (Cameron 73) 7. Duffy 8. Allan 9. O’Connor 10. Balfour (Longair 78) 11. Nisbet (Patterson 62)
Subs (not used) 16. Kerr 17. Boyle
Yoker Athletic
1. Winslow 2. Carson 3. Harvey 4. Maxwell. 5. Schoneville 6. McMonagle 7. McLaughlin 8. Rankin 9. Crerrand 10. Bisland 11. Frew
Subs 12. Arbuckle (60), 14 Rodger (65) 15. Maitland (65) 16. Collins 17. McManus
Referee: David Munro
MAN OF THE MATCH
Whitletts Victoria's two goal hero Tony Balfour was voted Man of the Match by the sponsors, the Black Bull, River Street, Ayr following Saturday's 4-1 Scottish Junior Cup victory over Yoker Athletic.
A rousing half time team talk from manager Steph McMillan woke up slumbering Vics as the Ayr side stormed their way into the last eight of the Scottish Junior Cup for the first time in 32 years!
In front of crowd in excess of 300, the Dam Park side failed to find any fluency in a dire opening 45 minutes but the tough talking from boss McMillan saw a totally different Whitletts side appear in the second half to blow away the Superleague side.
Whitletts tried to play football but found the going difficult in the heavy conditions and the Glasgow outfit had the better of a poor first period. Better in terms of possession but neither goalkeeper was tested until Yoker snatched the lead in the 41st minute. There appeared to be absolutely no danger as Ryan Frew picked the ball up 35 yards from goal but his thunderous left foot drive gave Jordan Callaghan no chance as it screamed past the Vics keeper into the top corner of the net.
However Whitletts had other ideas after the break and in the 55th minute were back on level terms. From a Tony Balfour corner kick, Lee Holland rose to send a looping header over Yoker keeper Craig Winslow and despite the best attempts from John Harvey to clear the ball off the line, the standside linesman had no hesitation in running back towards the halfway line to award the goal.
Within four minutes, the Ayr side had totally turned the game on its’ head. As Balfour worked his way into the box, his shot was blocked by Winslow and fell kindly for Shaun Allan who swept the ball into the net from eight yards.
The momentum was now with the home side. Yoker boss John Brogan made a number of changes to try and get his side back into the game but there was now no stopping this Vics machine and in the 63rd minute they increased their advantage. Mick O’Connor latched onto a Derek McCulloch pass down the right and his low cross picked out Balfour who took a touch before firing low past Winslow.
Five minutes later the game was over as a contest. Again a ball into the box picked out Balfour and although his first effort was blocked by the Yoker keeper, the Whitletts striker reacted quickest to fire low into the net for his tenth goal in this seasons Scottish Cup exploits.
Whitletts continued to press forward and Elliot Duffy almost made it five after a mazy run into the box left him in the clear but his shot was saved by the outstretched foot of Winslow.
With ten minutes remaining, Steph McMillan decided to hold onto what he had as he replaced replaced Balfour with defender and club skipper Graham Longair and the little striker received a standing ovation from the Whitletts fans as he left the park.
Yoker pressed to the end in an attempt to get back into the game but couldn’t breach the home defence that was superbly marshalled by the outstanding Derek McCulloch as Vics booked their place in the quarter final draw for only the third time in the clubs’ 70 year history.
Whitletts Victoria
1. Callaghan 2. Simpson 3. Lawrie 4. McCulloch 5. Buchanan 6. Holland (Cameron 73) 7. Duffy 8. Allan 9. O’Connor 10. Balfour (Longair 78) 11. Nisbet (Patterson 62)
Subs (not used) 16. Kerr 17. Boyle
Yoker Athletic
1. Winslow 2. Carson 3. Harvey 4. Maxwell. 5. Schoneville 6. McMonagle 7. McLaughlin 8. Rankin 9. Crerrand 10. Bisland 11. Frew
Subs 12. Arbuckle (60), 14 Rodger (65) 15. Maitland (65) 16. Collins 17. McManus
Referee: David Munro
MAN OF THE MATCH
Whitletts Victoria's two goal hero Tony Balfour was voted Man of the Match by the sponsors, the Black Bull, River Street, Ayr following Saturday's 4-1 Scottish Junior Cup victory over Yoker Athletic.