Yoker Athletic U20 1 - 2 Blantyre Victoria U20
Vics Scorers: Kyle MacDonald (28’), Brandon Fallon (45’)
After their first two games of the Vics U20’s preseason campaign, they were still searching for their first goal as well as their first victory. Following a draw with Bellshill Athletic and a defeat to BSA. So they were keen to open their account against Yoker‘s U20 side at the Alex Ferguson Park in Braehead.
Yoker’s youngsters started well and looked sharp from the off. In the opening minutes Steven Lynch made a clumsy foul in the penalty area and the referee had no doubts in pointing to the spot.
The penalty taker for the ‘Whe Ho’ stepped up and placed his spot-kick to the goalkeepers right. Michael McGlynn guessed right and palmed the effort away. The rebounded effort was fired into the outer side of the side netting.
Yoker did eventually take the lead in the 18th minute. A through ball bypassed the Vics defense, the Yoker attacker fired a pass across the face of goal and it was knocked home close range.
The Vics youngsters didn’t seem to be too rattled by this opening goal as they pushed forward and looked for an equaliser.
Their goal finally came in the 28th minute after Kyle MacDonald intercepted the ball in Yoker’s half and drove in from the right wing into the box. He had an option to cut it back into the path of Brett McGuire but he chose to have a shot himself and he tucked it underneath the goalkeeper to pull the Vics level. An excellent solo goal from the 17 year old.
The Vics were playing some good football and Yoker for the first time in the match looked as if they were on the back foot.
In the 44th Brett McGuire was clipped just inside the box, and yet again a penalty was awarded - this time for Blantyre. Brandon Fallon was the one with the responsibility of taking the spot-kick. His initial effort was saved by the keeper but there was nothing going to stop his rebound effort as he acrobatically leaped into the air and fired it home with a volley to give the Vics the lead.
The second half started well for the Vics as they looked comfortable and looked as though they could have went for a third. Yoker did eventually find their rhythm and began to dominate after the hour mark. McGlynn was called into action many times in the second half but never looked in too much trouble. Yoker Athletic really should have equalised on more than one occasion but their shooting was letting them down.
The Vics centre-half pairing were outstanding in the final 20 minutes. Arran Russell with some excellent last ditch tackles and captain Fraser Coutts commanded the backline well.
Overall a good victory for the Vics youngsters who worked hard to maintain their lead.
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