Whitletts Vics News
HURLFORD UNITED 6 WHITLETTS VICTORIA 2
Whitletts boss Steph McMillan asked a number of questions of his side in this first pre-season run out against the Scottish Junior Cup winners and will now be pondering over the answers after this entertaining clash at Blair Park.
McMillan used this match to try out a new formation and giving some of his new signings a run out and despite the scoreline, there were a number of positives that could be taken from the game.
Vics got off to the worst possible start when they fell behind to a 4th minute penalty kick after Lee Holland had pulled down former Ayr United player Ross Robertson inside the box. Robertson dusted himself down to send debutant keeper Ally McInnes the wrong way from 12 yards.
Hurlford looked rampant in the early stages with the visitors midfield struggling to contain the Junior Cup holders with the both full back’s consistently being exposed but Whitletts weathered the early pressure and began to work their way onto the game and began to ask questions of the home defence.
After only 10 minutes a well combined move involving Mick O’Connor and Tony Balfour opened up the home defence but keeper Stevie O’Neil denied Balfour with an outstretched left leg. Whitletts were growing in confidence going forward but were still vulnerable to home attacks and in the 29th minute they fell two behind. Only Ross Robertson will know if his effort from the right touchline was a shot or a cross but it drifted over the head of McInnes into the net via the far post.
But within a minute Whitletts had reduced the leeway with a great move ending in an O’Connor cross being met by the head of Jim Wilson who gave O’Neil no chance.
Tony Balfour came close to finding an equaliser in the 35th minute when he won the ball in midfield and saw O’Neil off his line but his cheeky drive from 35 yards drifted just wide. Moments later O’Connor saw his effort from the edge of the box deflected just wide but five minute from half time it was the home side who increased their advantage when a loose ball in midfield ran for Calum Watt who raced clear to fire low past the keeper.
Numerous changes in personel at the interval and early in the second period from both sides altered the passage of play but in the 57th minute Hurlford made it 4-1. A harmless looking free kick from Watt caught out replacement keeper Jordan Callaghan and the ball settled in the back of the net.
John Dempster then saw a drive from the edge of the box deflected just wide as the home side increased the pressure but it was not all one way traffic and Vics almost reduced the deficite in the 65th minute when from a Keiran Nisbet free kick Raymond Buchanan rose only to see his header crash back off the post with O’Neil beaten.
Dom Boyle was then set up in the clear but his volley was smashed back across goal but it was the home side who were to add to their tally when Calum Watt completed his hat trick by smashing a 20 yard effort in off the underside of the bar.
Still the visitors pressed forward and after a net bound effort from Boyle was deflected wide, from the resulting corner Graham Longair rose above the home defence to head home.
The scoring was completed eight minutes from time when Paul McKenzie latched onto a ball in the penalty area and despite the attentions of a couple of defenders, beat Callaghan at his near post with a low drive.
Hurlford United:
1 O’Neil 2. Cameron 3. Brown (Dempster HT) 4. McGregor 5. Blair 6. Chisholm 7. McKenzie 8. Mitchell (Wilson HT) 9. Robertson (Kean HT) 10. McHarry (Masterton) 11. Watt
Substitute (not used) GK. Ally Brown
Whitletts Victoria:
1. McInnes (Callaghan HT) 2. Simpson (Longair 57) 3. Lawrie 4. Reynolds 5. Holland (Buchanan HT) 6. Wallace 7. Cuthbertson (Kerr 57) 8. Hanvey 9. Balfour (Nisbet HT) 10. O’Connor (Ewart 68) 11. Wilson (Boyle 61)
Referee: Craig Napier
TOURNAMENT
Whitletts Victoria will play East junior side West Calder United in the semi final of the RESTORAROOF Festival of Football at Dam Park on Saturday 26th July in the Clubs’ inaugural pre-season tournament.
The tournament kicks off with a match between West Superleague First Division side Yoker Athletic and Lowland League side East Kilbride, who won the South of Scotland Challenge Cup at the first attempt last season.
That match will kick off at 12 noon and will consist of two halves of 30 minutes each way before the home side take the field at 1.30pm.
The two defeated sides will play each other in a 3rd/4th place match before the two winners take to the field at 5pm to play for The John Scarlett Trophy.
Whitletts Victoria Secretary Mark Porter said that he hoped the tournament would become an annual event on the clubs’ junior calendar.
“This is the first time that we’ve organised a tournament and we hope that it will become an annual event. It will be a great day’s entertainment for all the family with some quality football on show and will be vital preparation for the team ahead of the new season.”
And Mark revealed that the trophy the winners receive will recognise an important figure from Whitletts Victoria’s past.
“John Scarlett was a local businessman who helped save Whitletts Victoria in the 1970’s and we thought that his work and commitment to the Club at that time should be remembered. John is now in his mid-80’s and we hope that he will be able to attend the tournament and present the trophy to the winners”
“I would also like to thank RESTORAROOF for sponsoring the tournament and their support has been invaluable in ensuring that this tournament is a success and we hope that this will be the start of a long lasting partnership with them.”
Dam Park will be open from 11am and entry for the day is only £5 for an adult, £2.50 concessions with kids under 16 allowed free entry.
RESTORAROOF FESTIVAL OF FOOTBALL
The John Scarlett Trophy
12 noon – East Kilbride v Yoker Athletic
1.30pm - Whitletts Victoria v West Calder United
3.30pm – 3rd/4th Place Play Off
5pm - Final
CAMMY HEADS TO ANNBANK
Whitletts Victoria have agreed a deal that will see young midfielder Cammy Barr move to local Ayrshire District League rivals Annbank United.
The former Ayr United youth player spent that pat couple of seasons with the Dam Park side and everyone at the Club thank him for his contribution to the club and wish him every success in the future
Whitletts boss Steph McMillan asked a number of questions of his side in this first pre-season run out against the Scottish Junior Cup winners and will now be pondering over the answers after this entertaining clash at Blair Park.
McMillan used this match to try out a new formation and giving some of his new signings a run out and despite the scoreline, there were a number of positives that could be taken from the game.
Vics got off to the worst possible start when they fell behind to a 4th minute penalty kick after Lee Holland had pulled down former Ayr United player Ross Robertson inside the box. Robertson dusted himself down to send debutant keeper Ally McInnes the wrong way from 12 yards.
Hurlford looked rampant in the early stages with the visitors midfield struggling to contain the Junior Cup holders with the both full back’s consistently being exposed but Whitletts weathered the early pressure and began to work their way onto the game and began to ask questions of the home defence.
After only 10 minutes a well combined move involving Mick O’Connor and Tony Balfour opened up the home defence but keeper Stevie O’Neil denied Balfour with an outstretched left leg. Whitletts were growing in confidence going forward but were still vulnerable to home attacks and in the 29th minute they fell two behind. Only Ross Robertson will know if his effort from the right touchline was a shot or a cross but it drifted over the head of McInnes into the net via the far post.
But within a minute Whitletts had reduced the leeway with a great move ending in an O’Connor cross being met by the head of Jim Wilson who gave O’Neil no chance.
Tony Balfour came close to finding an equaliser in the 35th minute when he won the ball in midfield and saw O’Neil off his line but his cheeky drive from 35 yards drifted just wide. Moments later O’Connor saw his effort from the edge of the box deflected just wide but five minute from half time it was the home side who increased their advantage when a loose ball in midfield ran for Calum Watt who raced clear to fire low past the keeper.
Numerous changes in personel at the interval and early in the second period from both sides altered the passage of play but in the 57th minute Hurlford made it 4-1. A harmless looking free kick from Watt caught out replacement keeper Jordan Callaghan and the ball settled in the back of the net.
John Dempster then saw a drive from the edge of the box deflected just wide as the home side increased the pressure but it was not all one way traffic and Vics almost reduced the deficite in the 65th minute when from a Keiran Nisbet free kick Raymond Buchanan rose only to see his header crash back off the post with O’Neil beaten.
Dom Boyle was then set up in the clear but his volley was smashed back across goal but it was the home side who were to add to their tally when Calum Watt completed his hat trick by smashing a 20 yard effort in off the underside of the bar.
Still the visitors pressed forward and after a net bound effort from Boyle was deflected wide, from the resulting corner Graham Longair rose above the home defence to head home.
The scoring was completed eight minutes from time when Paul McKenzie latched onto a ball in the penalty area and despite the attentions of a couple of defenders, beat Callaghan at his near post with a low drive.
Hurlford United:
1 O’Neil 2. Cameron 3. Brown (Dempster HT) 4. McGregor 5. Blair 6. Chisholm 7. McKenzie 8. Mitchell (Wilson HT) 9. Robertson (Kean HT) 10. McHarry (Masterton) 11. Watt
Substitute (not used) GK. Ally Brown
Whitletts Victoria:
1. McInnes (Callaghan HT) 2. Simpson (Longair 57) 3. Lawrie 4. Reynolds 5. Holland (Buchanan HT) 6. Wallace 7. Cuthbertson (Kerr 57) 8. Hanvey 9. Balfour (Nisbet HT) 10. O’Connor (Ewart 68) 11. Wilson (Boyle 61)
Referee: Craig Napier
TOURNAMENT
Whitletts Victoria will play East junior side West Calder United in the semi final of the RESTORAROOF Festival of Football at Dam Park on Saturday 26th July in the Clubs’ inaugural pre-season tournament.
The tournament kicks off with a match between West Superleague First Division side Yoker Athletic and Lowland League side East Kilbride, who won the South of Scotland Challenge Cup at the first attempt last season.
That match will kick off at 12 noon and will consist of two halves of 30 minutes each way before the home side take the field at 1.30pm.
The two defeated sides will play each other in a 3rd/4th place match before the two winners take to the field at 5pm to play for The John Scarlett Trophy.
Whitletts Victoria Secretary Mark Porter said that he hoped the tournament would become an annual event on the clubs’ junior calendar.
“This is the first time that we’ve organised a tournament and we hope that it will become an annual event. It will be a great day’s entertainment for all the family with some quality football on show and will be vital preparation for the team ahead of the new season.”
And Mark revealed that the trophy the winners receive will recognise an important figure from Whitletts Victoria’s past.
“John Scarlett was a local businessman who helped save Whitletts Victoria in the 1970’s and we thought that his work and commitment to the Club at that time should be remembered. John is now in his mid-80’s and we hope that he will be able to attend the tournament and present the trophy to the winners”
“I would also like to thank RESTORAROOF for sponsoring the tournament and their support has been invaluable in ensuring that this tournament is a success and we hope that this will be the start of a long lasting partnership with them.”
Dam Park will be open from 11am and entry for the day is only £5 for an adult, £2.50 concessions with kids under 16 allowed free entry.
RESTORAROOF FESTIVAL OF FOOTBALL
The John Scarlett Trophy
12 noon – East Kilbride v Yoker Athletic
1.30pm - Whitletts Victoria v West Calder United
3.30pm – 3rd/4th Place Play Off
5pm - Final
CAMMY HEADS TO ANNBANK
Whitletts Victoria have agreed a deal that will see young midfielder Cammy Barr move to local Ayrshire District League rivals Annbank United.
The former Ayr United youth player spent that pat couple of seasons with the Dam Park side and everyone at the Club thank him for his contribution to the club and wish him every success in the future