Saturday 28th February. At St james's Park, league division 2 game

Ferguslie 2 v Houston Amateurs 3

Houston went in to this game knowing they would have a real fight on their hands as both teams had drawn in a previous league encounter, the only points Houston had dropped so far this season.

With the conditions good and perhaps the pitch being a bit bumpy it was reasonable conditions for football to be played. Both teams came out determined to gain the upper hand, Houston with a slight wind at their backs tryed to get the ball on the ground and the first ten minutes was very much a stale mate. Then Ferguslie broke up the park caught Houston napping and took the lead 1-0 Ferguslie, this would surely give Houston a wake up call and it did as almost immediately on the 16th minute a superb 60 yard pass by Mark Docherty was met perfectly on to the head of Stephen Sloane who placed it in to the top corner from 16 yards, a great pass and a great goal 1-1. Houston began to take control and where beginning to get used to the strong wind which had by now picked up and on the 37th minute a poor kick out by the Ferguslie keeper landed at the feet of Stephen Sloane he lobbed the advancing keeper ran round him and knocked it in to an empty net 2-1 Houston and deserved, Houston had a couple more chances in this first half but had to settle for the slender one goal lead at half time.

With the wind now in Ferguslies favour it was imperarive that Houston kept the ball on the ground and tryed to play football but this was proving difficult with a fighting oppostion to contend with. Houston did however get some more chances and Craig Brown missed a few good opportunities not his usual high standard of finishing. Houston made a couple of substitutes with McCally coming on for Bogle, Bremner coming on for McCallum and within two minutes Houston broke up the park the ball fell to sub McCally to fire into the bottom corner 3-1 Houston and they could possibly relax a little with 25 minutes to go. Again Houston could have extended their lead but it was Ferguslie who found the net next, the ball breaking to them in the box to fire into the top corner and give Houston keeper Robert McDonald no chance 3-2. Houston made another substitute to try and preserve their advantage the rest of the game peetered out without much incident and Houston held on to put them in a very strong position at the top of the league. Houston are at home next week to Glasgow Deaf.

Houston would also like to take this chance to thank the Houston Inn, the band "Rock Show" who were fantastic and everyone who came out on Saturday night to support their fund raising night. With Houston Raising just over £1500 this was a great success and will ensure status in the league next season and some training gear etc, so a big thank you again.

After three weeks off due to the weather Houston went into this quarter final cup game enthusiastic that they wanted to progress to the semi final, however Hillington are near the top of their prospective league so Houston knew this would not be an easy tie. The game started with both teams shutting each other down quickly and was centred in midfield with both teams winning and as quickly losing possession so this was creating a very competitive, tousy game. Houston had a couple of opportunities but found the Hillington keeper to be in fine form. Hillington also had their chances which were helped by Houstons over passing and laid back attitude at the back and midfield, the chances Hillington were having were gifted to them by Houston but neither team in the first half could gain an advantage and at half time it was 0-0.

After a few stern words from the Houston management and players they came out more determined in the second half and with better concentration Houston made the breakthrough, Colin McKinnon broke through on the edge of the box fired in a shot which the keeper superbly saved but Colin's quick reactions saw him fire the rebound in to the far corner 1-0 Houston. As the wind picked up so did Hillingtons attacks and they hammered the Houston goal with man of the match Houston keeper Robert McDonald pulling of some incredible saves, but he was helpless on 64 minutes, Hillington broke Houstons off side trap the striker went round Robert and put in to an empty net 1-1.

The tide had turned and the wind also as it got stronger throughout the game to Houstons dissadvantage. Houston though pluged away like they have many times in the second half of games this season and on the 77th minutes the ball broke to Chris Gillies just inside the box he side stepped two challenges before placing the ball from 12 yards into the bottom corner 2-1 Houston.Hillinton then for the last ten minutes put Houston under intense pressure, they went through on Robert McDonald one on one twice with the keeper winning the battle both times, then Hillington smaked the bar when it looked easier to score. Houston managed to hold on and were perhaps lucky to have won this in normal time but a semi final to look forward too.Houston are away next week to Ferguslie in the league.

Houston also have a fantastic fundraising night set for Saturday night 28th February 8pm in the Houston Inn, the fantastic live band "Rock show" are performing, there is an auction with a signed Rangers, Celtic, St Mirren tops amongst the prizes and much more. Also a raffle with various alcoholic bottles can be won(any donations to raffle or auction are very welcome)and many other games with monetry prizes. The Houston Inn has a fantastic atmosphere at the best of times and are the Houston Football teams main sponser, so you can imagine how good a night it will be with a live band, free entry and lot's of entertainment so come along and support your local side!

Source - Oban Saints Website

NOT many teams who have won a game 4-0 and qualified for the last 32 of the Scottish Amateur Cup would expect to get a slating from their manager, but this is what happened on Saturday after Saints had beaten Houston to gain a 6th round home tie against Carrick.
Manager Iain Jackson was not a happy with the display of his team and they were told in no uncertain terms that this type of performance was completely unacceptable.
The Oban side were without striker Allan MacKay for this tie so Donald Campbell was pushed into attack alongside Darin Bryars with Joe Lopez slotting into midfield.
The visitors started quite well and were soon buzzing around the Houston goals without really troubling keeper Robert MacDonald too much.
Houston had the advantage of a blustery wind and were soon pressing the Saints midfielders who were getting caught up the park which made it easy for Houston to push extra men forward. Wave after wave of Houston attacks were causing the Saints defence no end of trouble, but luckily for keeper Graham Douglas the Houston shots were mostly off target.
Saints took the lead in the 17th minute, against the run of play, with a well worked goal. A good move down the left flank resulted in Willie Gemmell sliding a neat pass through to Myles McAuley, who in turn slipped the ball to Donald Campbell who then buried a low shot past the Houston keeper to make the score 1-0.
The home side came storming forward after this reversal and were unlucky when Graham Douglas spilled a Mark Docherty free kick to the feet of Darrn Boagle, but referee Hugh Howie, who had a good game, blew for offside much to the relief of the Saints contingent.
The Oban side were seldom seen as an attacking force in the first half although Darin Bryars and Donald Campbell combined well to set up a couple of reasonable chances. Donald being unlucky when he tried to chip the keeper.
The main fault lay in the midfield area where the Saints players were giving their opponents too much time and space on the ball and not closing them down quickly enough.
The half time whistle arrived with Saints holding on to a slender 1-0 lead..
The second half started and it was more of the same as the home side came storming forward at every opportunity, but Saints looked a lot more organised after a few home truths were told at the break. They were defending well when they had to, although it took a superb last ditch tackle from Jamie Graham to deny a certain goal and keeper Graham Douglas was forced into a great save to keep his team's narrow lead intact.
As he half wore on Saints began to come more into the game and netted that vital second goal when Houston keeper Robert MacDonald and substitute Graham Gow got into tangle when trying to clear a high cross. Donald Campbell seized his opportunity to pick up the loose ball and stroke it into an empty net to make the score 2-0 to give his team a much needed breathing space.
This was the sign for Saints to keep the ball and stroke it about and make Houston chase the game but all credit to the Paisley and District side they never gave up and battled right to the end.
Houston had no optiion now but to push more players forward in an attempt to get a goal back, but Saints were defending in depth and looked dangersous on the break.
Donald Campbell and Darin Bryars combined well to set up a chance and then Willie Gemmell fired in a great free kick which the keeper did well to stop
The visitors killed the game off in the 83rd minute when Craig MacEwan raced clear on the left before thumping a great low drive past the helpless Houston keeper to make the score 3-0.
Houston were a beaten side now and the icing on the cake arrived two minutes from time when Myles McAuley fired in a teasing cross from the right for Willie Gemmell, steaming in at the back post, to hammer the ball home to make the final score 4-0.
Manager Iain Jackson was happy to get through to the last 32 of the competition, but not impressed at some aspects of his team's performance. He said: 'We didn't play well today and I'll be having a word with the lads at training about certain things we need to get sorted out. I felt a bit sorry for Houston, they didn't deserve to be on the end of that scoreline. However, I suppose on the brighter side we did get through, kept a clean sheet and scored four goals into the bargain.'

Houston went in to this league game wanting to put the rest of the teams in the league under real pressure.

The game was played in good conditions with a great surface for Houston to play there passing game. The game started with Houston getting the ball down and passing it around the park and on 17 minutes they got the break through, the ball was put into the box and following a scramble Chris Gillies smashed the ball in to the roof of the net 1-0 Houston. Then on 22 minutes Houston switched off at a corner to allow the Boswell forward to hook the ball into the top corner 1-1. Houston took control of the game and missed a few chances before in the 38th minute they restored their lead Colin Mckinnon with the goal 2-1 at halftime.
After a few words at halftime Houston came out firing and straight away Stephen Sloane headed in a great goal from a corner 3-1, 2 minutes later it was 4-1 before Sloane scored another carbon copy header 5-1 for his hattrick. Houston were now on easy street and played some delightful football, Chris Gillies fought his way through some Boswell players to fire into the bottom corner 6-1. Sloane then fired in another great shot into the top corner 7-1.The game at this point was well over and just as Boswell were hoping for the final whistle Sloane added another two for a double hattrick and a man of the match performance. A great second half display from Houston and that victory puts them two points behind the leaders with two games in hand.
Houston are now at home next week in the fifth round of the Scottish cup hosting Oban Saints at Linwood sports centre and if they progress have another home tie to Carrick Ams in the sixth round.

Mclean/Lothian cup 1st round, at Linwood Houston Amateurs 3 Fordbank Star 2

Houston went into this game a league lower than their opponents but where confident with recent good results. The pitch was in very good condition which would give both teams a rare opportunity to play football in decent weather. Houston started positively with a slight wind at their backs and Stephen Sloane had a couple of chances which the fordbank keeper did well to save, then on the 24th minute the breakthrough. Robert Capper hit a shot from outside the box which the fordbank keeper parried out to John Canpbell 15 yards out for, he cleverly headered in a shot and with their defender desperately trying to keep the ball out but with no avial 1-0 Houston. The game then became a bit of a battle with Fordbank beginning to take control then on 38th minute Fordbank hit a shot from just inside the box to leave Rab Mcdonald the Houston keeper with no chance1-1. Fordbank pushed with Houston struggling to get a grip on the game and just before half time Fordbank had a player unmarked at the back post 2-1 to Star at Halftime.After some words at halftime form the Management Houston came out in the second half far more determined and immediately equalised, the ball came out 25 yards out and Darren Bogle drove in a stunning strike across the keeper and into the bottom corner 2-2, Houston then took control of the game as they found their usual passing game, Houston missed a few chances before a corner was whipped in on 63rd minute for Steven Sloane to header in to the far top corner 3-2 Houston. Both teams went down to ten men before the game peppered out without much more incident. A good result in the cup for Houston against a team in the league above. Houston are still awaiting the result of Kilbarchan v Oban saints to find out who they have in the fifth round of the scottish cup and are away to Boswell next week in the league.