Whitletts Vics News
VICS & PORT RAISE CASH FOR TILLY
WHITLETTS VICTORIA 2 PORT GLASGOW 1
Whitletts Victoria won the John Scarlett Trophy at Dam Park with another fine display against Port Glasgow on a day when the thoughts of everyone were with little Tilly Sharkey
Vics started strongly and were first to show in front of goal when Tony Balfour squirmed his way into the six yard box only to be denied by a fine block from Port keeper James Dunn. Then Chris Black headed narrowly over from six yards after Danny Cunningham had headed a Louis Kerr corner back across goal. The home side should have taken the lead on the quarter hour mark when a low Niall Kennedy cross picked out Black but as the Vics midfielder sidestepped his opponent he couldn’t get the ball out from under his feet and Dunn recovered to kick the ball off the line.
Debutant full back Fraser Smith, called up from the clubs’ under 21 side, was next to test Dunn as the keeper parried his thunderous shot behind.
A goal was always on the cards and in the 20th minute Vics made the breakthrough. Again Dunn could only parry a Smith drive from outside the box but this time Paul Cameron was on hand to fire home the rebound. Josh Sloan then fired inches wide from 25 yards while Cameron should have doubled his tally on the half hour when he intercepted a clearance and elected to chip the advancing keeper only for the ball to land on top of the net. Balfour then saw his angled drive slip agonisingly wide as Vics dominated the proceedings but despite all their pressure it was Port who nearly got back on equal terms when Craig McCormick got on the end of a cross but headed over at the back post. The warning was heeded and in the 37th minute Whitletts doubled their lead. Black played Balfour inside the box and on the striker took a touch before firing low past Dunn. At that point Vics looked to be heading to a comfortable victory but two minutes before the interval Port Glasgow reduced the leeway when Paul Pettigrew got on the end of a knock down inside the box to fire past Ally McInnes and Port were back in the game.
Early in the second period Dunn again denied Balfour with an angled drive. Cameron then tested the Port keeper with a shot from inside the box after a neat lay off from Kennedy. Balfour then couldn’t get enough on the ball to direct a fizzing cross from Kris Kerr into the net. Whitletts continued to have the better of the play and Blair Anderson saw his angled drive slip just wide and moments later Kennedy saw his attempt cleared off the line at the back post by Robbie Davis.
In the dying moments Port Glasgow created a great chance to snatch an equaliser but substitute McGilp overplayed his pass into Jamie McKenna and the chance went a begging. Another match where Vics played some delighted, open and attractive football but where the margin of victory should have been a lot greater. However the day was all about little Tilly Sharkey and the appeal to raise money for her to receive the treatment that she urgently requires.
Not only was the admission money and half time draw money paid towards the Appeal but a huge thanks also to the generosity shown by the players and officials of Port Glasgow who organised a collection amongst their players and officials and made a donation to the Sharkey family, as well as match referee Ross Menzies who donated his match fee to a worthwhile cause.
Whitletts Victoria
1.McInnes (Dorigo 68)) 2 Mathieson (Anderson 56) 3 Smith 4 Cunningham 5 Longair 6. Sloan 7 Kennedy 8 Black 9 Cameron 10 Louis Kerr (Boyd 56) 11 Balfour (Kris Kerr 56) Subs (not used) 16 Barr
Port Glasgow
1. Dunn 2. McClement 3. Davis ((McKay 62)4. McMillan 5. McGarrigle 6. Cruickshanks 7. Paul Pettigrew 8. Gary Pettigrew 9. Anderson (McGilp 50)10. McKenna 11. McCormick Subs (not used) 15. Beaton
Referee Ross Menzies
WHITLETTS SIGN DANNY CUNNINGHAM
Whitletts Victoria are delighted to announce the signing of central defender Danny Cunningham Cunningham has a wealth of experience in the junior game having played at the top level with Cumnock but spent the vast majority of his career with Girvan, with whom he won the Ayrshire District League last season.
Welcoming Danny to the club, Vics manager Neil Duffy said:
"Danny is a hugely influential player. Strong in the air and good on the ground he is exactly the type of player we are looking to bring into the club."
"He will also be a positive asset to the dressing room with his experience assisting the younger players in our squad who can learn from his knowledge of the game."
WHITLETTS VICTORIA 2 PORT GLASGOW 1
Whitletts Victoria won the John Scarlett Trophy at Dam Park with another fine display against Port Glasgow on a day when the thoughts of everyone were with little Tilly Sharkey
Vics started strongly and were first to show in front of goal when Tony Balfour squirmed his way into the six yard box only to be denied by a fine block from Port keeper James Dunn. Then Chris Black headed narrowly over from six yards after Danny Cunningham had headed a Louis Kerr corner back across goal. The home side should have taken the lead on the quarter hour mark when a low Niall Kennedy cross picked out Black but as the Vics midfielder sidestepped his opponent he couldn’t get the ball out from under his feet and Dunn recovered to kick the ball off the line.
Debutant full back Fraser Smith, called up from the clubs’ under 21 side, was next to test Dunn as the keeper parried his thunderous shot behind.
A goal was always on the cards and in the 20th minute Vics made the breakthrough. Again Dunn could only parry a Smith drive from outside the box but this time Paul Cameron was on hand to fire home the rebound. Josh Sloan then fired inches wide from 25 yards while Cameron should have doubled his tally on the half hour when he intercepted a clearance and elected to chip the advancing keeper only for the ball to land on top of the net. Balfour then saw his angled drive slip agonisingly wide as Vics dominated the proceedings but despite all their pressure it was Port who nearly got back on equal terms when Craig McCormick got on the end of a cross but headed over at the back post. The warning was heeded and in the 37th minute Whitletts doubled their lead. Black played Balfour inside the box and on the striker took a touch before firing low past Dunn. At that point Vics looked to be heading to a comfortable victory but two minutes before the interval Port Glasgow reduced the leeway when Paul Pettigrew got on the end of a knock down inside the box to fire past Ally McInnes and Port were back in the game.
Early in the second period Dunn again denied Balfour with an angled drive. Cameron then tested the Port keeper with a shot from inside the box after a neat lay off from Kennedy. Balfour then couldn’t get enough on the ball to direct a fizzing cross from Kris Kerr into the net. Whitletts continued to have the better of the play and Blair Anderson saw his angled drive slip just wide and moments later Kennedy saw his attempt cleared off the line at the back post by Robbie Davis.
In the dying moments Port Glasgow created a great chance to snatch an equaliser but substitute McGilp overplayed his pass into Jamie McKenna and the chance went a begging. Another match where Vics played some delighted, open and attractive football but where the margin of victory should have been a lot greater. However the day was all about little Tilly Sharkey and the appeal to raise money for her to receive the treatment that she urgently requires.
Not only was the admission money and half time draw money paid towards the Appeal but a huge thanks also to the generosity shown by the players and officials of Port Glasgow who organised a collection amongst their players and officials and made a donation to the Sharkey family, as well as match referee Ross Menzies who donated his match fee to a worthwhile cause.
Whitletts Victoria
1.McInnes (Dorigo 68)) 2 Mathieson (Anderson 56) 3 Smith 4 Cunningham 5 Longair 6. Sloan 7 Kennedy 8 Black 9 Cameron 10 Louis Kerr (Boyd 56) 11 Balfour (Kris Kerr 56) Subs (not used) 16 Barr
Port Glasgow
1. Dunn 2. McClement 3. Davis ((McKay 62)4. McMillan 5. McGarrigle 6. Cruickshanks 7. Paul Pettigrew 8. Gary Pettigrew 9. Anderson (McGilp 50)10. McKenna 11. McCormick Subs (not used) 15. Beaton
Referee Ross Menzies
WHITLETTS SIGN DANNY CUNNINGHAM
Whitletts Victoria are delighted to announce the signing of central defender Danny Cunningham Cunningham has a wealth of experience in the junior game having played at the top level with Cumnock but spent the vast majority of his career with Girvan, with whom he won the Ayrshire District League last season.
Welcoming Danny to the club, Vics manager Neil Duffy said:
"Danny is a hugely influential player. Strong in the air and good on the ground he is exactly the type of player we are looking to bring into the club."
"He will also be a positive asset to the dressing room with his experience assisting the younger players in our squad who can learn from his knowledge of the game."