Jun 5 2010 by Paul Behan, Paisley Daily Express

HOUSTON Amateurs finished off a fantastic season by lifting the Fleming Cup after winning 2-1 against a strong Stivenstoun CK side who had only lost one other game all season.

This rounded off another good campaign for Houston, who were promoted to the top division in the Paisley and District League last season.

They finished a creditable second in the league and also got to the final of the Good Conduct Cup, where they lost on penalties to Bishopton after a 2-2 draw.

Houston manager, Arthur Jackson, said: “I am very proud of the boys. This is only our second season together and we have built up a fantastic club with fantastic players.

“If someone had said to me at the start of the season we would be in two cup finals and narrowly miss out on the league I would have been happy with that.

“We are an ambitious amateur club. We reached the fifth round of the Scottish Cup last season as well as the fifth round of the West of Scotland Cup this season, so we have progressed remarkably.”

Houston, nicknamed ‘The Amos’, are now developing their club infrastructure as President Darren Gilmour is starting a Houston Amateur under-7 side to compliment the adult team.

If any players from other under-21 teams, amateur sides, or the junior ranks are looking for a new club next season they are invited to contact Arthur Jackson on 07853 107 515.

Pre-season training starts on Saturday, July 3, and Houston also have their presentation night coming soon.

The club, meanwhile, would like to thank the Houston Inn and Bryce Boyd Planning Solutions for their sponsorship this season.

League Division 1 at Morar drive 20/03/10

West end villa 1 vrs Houston Amateurs 4

Houston hadnt played a league game for a few months and this was only their 7 league game of the season due to the bad weather and cup games. Having played less league games than other teams in the league it was important that Houston added to their point tally in this game.

With the sun out and a good playing surface this would be an opportunity for both teams to play some football and with the Houston management reminding the players of the importance of coming out the traps early in this game and putting it to their opposition. With some players missing it was an excellant chance for others to stake their claim in the team.

Houston started the game and both teams found it difficult to gain control of the game with West End attacking and Houston playing on the break, the first chance for Houston duly arrived, a great through ball for Scott McLintoch who couldn't quite get his header past the advancing keeper who saved well. West End continued to press Houston back as they found it difficult to get their foot on the ball but the first goal arrived and it was for Houston. A shot went in on the West End keeper who fumbled the ball but seemed to gain control again, Houston appealed for a corner but the referee didnt give it. Then strangely the West End keeper threw the ball out for a corner obviously thinking he heard a whistle, Stephen Sloan put a low cross in to the advancing Houston right back Darren Bogle to put a precise shot just inside the near post 1-0. To West Ends credit they came back strongly and had the Houston defence stretched at times but good defending and poor finishing kept houston ahead.The front two for Houston were working very hard harrying and closing down the defence chasing everything and it was this combination on the 32nd minute that increased the lead, a ball was played over the top to Sloan he ran down the line before placing a great cross right on the head of McLintoch for an easy header 2-0 and Houston looked more comfortable, perhaps the rustiness having not played now gone. However on the 41st minute as West End played a high ball into the box the referee saw a push and gave a penalty to the home team, this made it 2-1 at half time.

Houston management and players ironed out a few things at half time and in the second half saw a completely different away performance, Houston were now playing higher up the park and this suffocated the West End attacks, the away side were also passing far better and scored their third 5 minutes into the second half, Sloan again with a great pass to put McLintoch through one and one with the keeper, a great finish under the keeper into an empty net and this was to prove decisive. Houston made a sub Ryan Bogle for Callum Graham to inject some pace and Ryan dinked a great pass through to Sloan but the keeper saved well. West End were now playing the long ball and blazed a great chance over the bar. Houston brought on Andy Newton and new signing Barry Lavety to try and wrap up the game which happened immediately on the 76th minute. A high ball was played to Lavety who expertly played the ball first time out wide to Man of the Match Sloan he played a low cross into the box where Newton stormed into the box firing a first time shot past the keeper 4-1 Houston and the game was over, although they had another great chance to score again, Lavety met a cross with his head only to see it rebound of the underside of the bar. A good win with a very good second half performance for Houston, and as from the 29th they will now be playing three games a week, but firstly they have a very difficult tie in the second round of the fleming cup against league challengers Alba Thistle on Saturday the 27th.

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.