Paisley Amatuers 2 vs Houston Amatuers 5

Fleming Cup round 1, at King George V playing fields


Houston went into this game having gone 6 weeks without any football what so ever, so this was always going to have the look of a pre season game about it with the heavy pitch conditions adding to the festive period over indulgences. Houston Management tried hard to make sure the players were under no illusions how difficult this game would be and how important it was to try and get in their faces right from the first whistle.

Houston after a thorough warm up started cautiously, not really putting their foot on the ball and struggling to get into their passing football, Paisley
however had also had a long time off so for the first 7 minutes the game was scrappy but then a bit of fortune went Houstons way, a hopeful free kick was belted high into the Paisley box and as their keeper came out the defender jumped also with the ball skidding of his head and into his own net 1-0 Houston. After this it was end to end football but with 25 minutes gone Houston started to find their rythmn and took control of the game, passing and attacking will vigour, then on the 33rd minute Houston worked a great goal, a ball swung in from the right found Scott McLintoch who was unmarked between two defenders, he rose to head the ball over and advancing keeper from 18 yards a great finish. Houston had a few attempts at goal with no luck and Paisley attacking sporadically but it was 2-0 to Houston at half time.

After an encouraging team talk, it was Houstons plan to step up a gear and finish the game off, on 51 minutes it looked like Houston had done just that. A sweeping cross to the back post was expertly met by Scott McLintoch to header high into the net from 4 yards, Scotts second and Houstons third. Houston seemed in command playing the ball about and attacking in waves, the Houston management made a double substitution bringing on Craig Brown and Ryan Bogle.
Then on the 60th minute a moment of controversy, Paisley for the first time broke the Houston offside trap and with their player running on in goal, Houston defender Darren Bogle made a fantastic last minute tacking sweeping the ball away from the striker, as the fans at the sideline were cheering and congratulating Darren and after a good few seconds the referee gave a penalty to the amazement of everyone, then again surprisingly having given the penalty he only booked Darren when he was clearly the last man, Paisley dispatched the penalty well 3-1 and a lifeline for the home team.
Houston did feel aggrieved but responded straight away, with the Paisley defence apparently hearing a whistle they stopped allowing Ryan Bodle to go through on the keeper, he expertly fired past the keeper at his near post, curling it round him in off the post 4-1 and now Houston were looking to extend their lead. But the next goal was Paisleys, the Houston defender was caught on the wrong side of the Paisley striker who turned his man and finished well from 14 yards, shooting across the Houston keeper Rab McDonald and into the bottom corner.
However Houston didn't look like falling to pieces and attacked Paisley and on the 78th minute Ryan Bogle scored the goal of the game with a cheeky wee dink from 12 yards perfectly over the keeper and into the net 5-2 Houston. More chances were missed by Houston but the game was over and finished 5-2, not a fantastic performance but a good run out and progress in the cup.

After Houston had overcome Rutherglen the week before they were straight back into the West of Scotland cup action this time in the third round against Glasgow Nazerene a team Houston didn't know to much about, however Glasgow had an advantage having watched Houstom play in the previous week.

Manager Arthur Jackson decided to try and hit Glasgow by surprise and opted for a 3-4-3 attacking formation, with each player knowing excactly what their role was in the team, again Houston had some players back from injury and it was also a first start for some, with positions hotly contested it was a chance for some to cement their place in the team.
Houston were very focused and started very brightly playing the ball on the deck due to the wind, but Nazerene also showed they could move a ball also and in the early exchanges it became very apparent that this was gonna be a close, tough game. However it was Houston who took the lead, a fantastic goal it was to, Scott McLintoch collected the ball at the edge of the centre circle he played a lovely one two before feeding the ball through to Grant Finnigan he expertly dispatched it past the keeper with his left foot from 12 yards into the bottom corner, a great start and a great goal 1-0.
This seemed to jolt Nazerene into action and it was them that took control of the game for the next 25minutes, their passing was a joy to watch but they didnt seem to penetrate the Houston defence until the 36th minute, a ball played through to their striker who was not followed by his marker he side stepped a defender before going down, the referee awarded a penalty, and it was probably the correct decision, Nazerene made it 1-1 and it stayed this way till half time.
Houston management had words with the players at half time urging them to up their performance and step up a gear, and Houston really took it to Nazerene in the second half. Again Nazerenes passing was very nice but they didnt have much going forward, Houston made a change bringing on Andy Newton to shut down their number 10 who was running the game and this was the turning point. Houston tried desperatly to get beyond their defence and had a few shots on goal but the next real opportunity and their only one of the second half fell to Nazerene. Their striker broke through rounded Houston keeper Rab McDonald and shot but the superb defensive display by new signing Robert Millar meant he had a sore crotch but the score remained 1-1. On the 68th minute Houston broke quickly the ball was fed through to Grant Finnigan who did fantastically well to place his shot past the advancing Nazerene keeper 2-1 Houston. The game continued with Houston trying to wrap the game up and man of the match Robert Capper had an attempt as did Scott McLintoch but no more goals were to come, final score 2-1 Houston and that put them into the fourth round.

Houston are at Paisley Ams in the league next week.

Houston went in to this second round tie at the third time of asking due to the weather, feeling they may have a good chance to progress. The game was being played on 3g astro grass in Glasgow hardly a good venue for a home tie but Houston were desperate to see the tie out.

The game started with Houston playing a much taller and more experienced Rutherglen side, the idea being that Houston didn't let the pace drop and keep the ball on the ground, Houston had a few players back from injuries, some of which featured in this tie. Houstons plan started well when they opened the scoring in 5 minutes, the ball broke to Colin McKinnon 10 yards out for him to expertly volley home past the Rutherglen keeper 1-0 Houston. The game was then quite scrappy with Houston trying to pass there way round the park, but the wind was causing a few problems, Houston had a few shots at goal without causing to much problems, Rutherglen were also happy to hit Houston on the break and looked dangerous at times, then on the 24th minute a stunning strike, the ball was laid of to Colin Mckinnon 25 yards out he hit across the ball first time and it sailed across the Rutherglen keeper and into the top corner giving him no chance 2-0 Houston and perhaps a chance for them to settle and play the ball about. Although Houston did look dangerous a lack of concentration and perhaps a close call by the referee gave Rutherglen a life line, they broke the offside trap on 38th minute and slipped the ball under Rab McDonald 2-1 and a goal Houston were upset at losing. With determination Houston knew they needed another goal before half time and they did through a blunder by the Rutherglen keeper, the ball was put forward the keeper came out to claim what looked like an easy catch but he fumbled it into the path of John Campbell to tap home 3-1 at half time.
Houston knew they hadn't played at their best and would have to up their game in the second half, Rutherglen had the majority of the possession without looking to much of a danger, Houston had chances through Scott McLintoch to finish the tie but the Rutherglan keeper did well, Houston also made a few subs bringing on Steven Sloan and David McMurdo.

St James's Playing fields, 2.30pm ko

League Division 1 Game 4

Houston were back in league action this week against Paisley Amateurs who had last season beaten Houston in the play off semi final, Houston also had the opportunity of going top of the league if they were to beat Paisley Ams.

With a very strong wind blowing down towards one end of the goal andHouston losing the toss this meant they were palying against a very strong wind in the first half, the Houston management expressed the importance of playing the ball on the deck, and this is something Houston did brilliantly all game.

Houston attacked and in the first few minutes the referee turned down what looked like a stone wall penalty, then Darren Bogle had a couple of chance, with one he brilliantly rounded the keeper and with an open goal scuffed his shot by the post, perhaps if his team mates had informed him he had time he may not have rushed it so much. But it wasnt long before Houston scored with Grant Finnigan driving a shot form 18 yeard past the helpless keeper 1-0, 5 minutes later Grant scored again before rounding off his hattrick in the 24th minute 3-0 Houston, with Darren and Grant causing havoc for their defence and the rest of Houston playing some fantastic football it wasn't long before Darren Bodle made it 4-0 tapping in at the far post. Paisley pulled a goal back, but their striker looked to have been at least 5 yards off side, Houston retained their four goal advantage with a fifth from John Campbell. Then with five minutes before half time Houston relaxed and got a bit sloppy firstly losing possession and allowing their striker to make it 5-2, then a minute later a Houston player (CHRIS GILLIES) lost possession as he tried to dribble out his own box amaxingly Houston went in at half time only 5-3 ahead.

During half time it was clear that the Houston players were annoyed at them selves with Houston management challenging them to get back to playing football, However 2 minutes in to second half a through ball missed by the Houston defence left the Paisley striker to make it 5-4!!!!
Houston pulled themselves together no little thanks to two goalkeeping howlers, firstly Grant Finnigan shot hopefully from 25 yards which slipped under the keeper, then Robert Capper also drove in a shot which again slipped in under the keeper 7-4. Houston made a few subs bringing on Ryan Bogle and Ross MaDonnell both were to contribute to the final 20 minutes, Ryan with his pace was terrorising their defence and crossed for Ross to score, then almost a carbon copy Ryan crossed again, after agian beating his man thie time John Campball scoring 9-4 and Houston looked like they could score every time they went forward, on the 88th minute another cross in to the box was met well by a stretching Ross McDonnell his second and Houstons 10th, Final score 10-4, apart from a a poor five minute spell Houston had played very very well.

Next week Houston play Tynecastle from Easterhouse in the 2nd round of the scottish cup.

Bishopton playing fields 19th September 2009, 2.00pm ko
Mclean Lothian Cup 1st Round


Houston were playing a very determined Johnstone team for the second time in a week, and although Houston got the upper hand in the league game this cup game would prove to be a very difficult 1st round tie, added to which Houston are the current holders of this cup and were keen to defend it.

Johnstone started the match in determined mood with some crunching takles and closing Houston down at every opportunity, with Houston finding the huge park difficult to adapt too. Johnstone had the first chance shooting from just outside the box past the far post, and perhaps Johnstone were having more of the play at this time. Then on the 26th minute the break through, the Johnstone striker ran in to the box unchallenged before shooting low in to the far corner giving keeper Rab McDonald no chance, after this Houston came more in to the game without actually creating to many chances 1-0 at half time.

Houston came out in the second half knowing they were still very much in the game and began to take control with Johnstone now playing on the counter attack, Houston had the possession but just couldn't find the right pass in the final third. A few headers from corners from Houston and shots didn't cause to many problems, but by know Houstons fitness was very evident to see as Johnstone noticibly wilted and Houston took full control of the game attacking at every opportunity which led to scrambles in the Johnstone penalty area and they were defending liks demons. Then came the moment Houston had been playing for on the 89th minute a ball was swung in by Graeme Gow to the far post where Ian McCallum was on hand to expertly head the ball in from 4 yards 1-1, and the game went into extra time.

Houston had words before extra time and unless something amazing happened they were very comfortable that they could win this game in the extra 30 minutes as they looked far fitter. The first half went by without to many chances for either team again Houston attacking without any luck. The second half began with Houston knowing this was their best opportunity to finish Johnstone off as one goal would. Then on the 109th minute it came, a corner was swung in to the far post by John Campbell and was met by man of the match Graeme Gow who headed past a tired defence 2-1 Houston!!!! Houston should have added to their score but the game ended with Houston advancing to the next round where they will meet Cotters Bar.

Next week is a holiday weekend and the weekend after Houston play Paisley Amateurs in the league.