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.