Glasgow Athletic welcomed Hillhead for today’s home league tie. Athletic had injury problems going into today’s game with ever present Stephen Tierney being injured due to a kick-a-bout with work-mates during the festive period tut tut. Also out injured was John Kirk to a groin problem. Athletic had only 12 players for this potentially tough fixture. This was the third game between the two teams with Athletic winning the previous two.

It was a slow start to the game possibly down to the two teams not having played much in recent weeks due to the weather. Athletic always looked the more likely to open the scoring as they were creating more clear cut chances. Frank broke down the left hand side and delivered an inviting cross that wee Ronnie should have done better than header over the bar. Hillhead although dominant in possession at times were not troubling our defence. Frank then crossed for Toddy who headered wide. The opening goal was coming and mid way through the first half it came Ronnie made a tackle and fed it to Toddy who played the ball to Frank down the left and he played it in to Ronnie who gave the keeper no chance with a first time shot into the right hand corner of the net. 1-0.

Hillhead tried to get back into the game but were kept to long range efforts which were no trouble for Grant in goals. With ten minutes to go Athletic got their second again Toddy and Ronnie involved in the build up Toddy released the ball to Ronnie who looked up and his pass to Paul running through the middle made it 2-0 to Athletic. Half time a good half only spoiled by two silly bookings for Frank and Bobby.

We expected a different performance from Hillhead in the second half it needed to be if they wanted to take anything from this game. Again they had the bulk of possession and were creating more than they did in the first half. A goal was coming and 20 minutes into the second half it duly came. A corner was floated into the middle of the box and their number 4 headed into the far corner. 2-1 game on.

Hillhead could now sense they had a chance to take a point or all three from this game. Athletic had other ideas. The game was still bogged down in the midfield and chances few and far between. The high ball into the box was causing the main problems for the home side and Grant had to make two good saves from headers one of them being from his own defender in Tucker. Athletic had their chances but seemed to take the wrong option. Bobby tried to curl one into the top corner when the easier option was to play Toddy in. Wee Ronnie tried to cross one in when the cut back would have been the better option.

As the game was drawing to a close Athletic had weathered the storm and would close out the match to take all three points. Full time 2-1. A great result the team worked hard to get all three points from a potentially difficult game.

Today was the quarter finals of the GDSML cup and Glasgow Athletic were drawn away to Andrew Watts from the second division. Previous meetings between the two sides were victories to Athletic 3-2 and 8-2 respectively. This would make Athletic favorites going into this one. Athletic welcomed John back into the starting line-up after a groin injury they were however still without Stephen Tierney The team Grant in goal the back three of Perry S.Hanley and Michael the midfield 5 contained P.Tierney R.Munro as wing backs and John Goldie and Frank in the middle with Toddy and a rare start for Charlie as the front two.

The first half began at a frantic pace with both teams creating chances their forward was causing young Michael problems. His inexperience was causing him to give fouls away. Most of the chances they created were shots from distance which Grant dealt with easily. Frank and Toddy were causing their back four problems Charlie with his pace was a threat. The ref booked Stephen for an altercation with their team watching from the sidelines. The ref for some reason seemed to give every decision against Athletic. After 35 minutes Athletic were awarded a free kick outside the box after Charlie was upended not surprisingly the ref failed to book the offender who was the last man. Toddy and Frank lined up the free kick it was left to Toddy who scored with the aid of a deflection. 1-0 Athletic. Now how would A Watts react? It would come in the form of P Tierney who was about to push the self destruct button with two bookings in quick succession. The first for a late challenge and the second for a crazy lunge which the ref had no option but to send him off one of the few decisions he got right. Athletic knew they had a game on now down to ten men with the second half to come and to protect their undefeated run from the start of the season.

The manager made a change at the start of the second half bringing on Bobby for John who was lacking match fitness due to his long term injury. As expected the Watts came out of the traps quickly to try and overturn the deficit. The defence was holding their own but you could sense a goal was coming and when it did it was a freak equaliser the ball was punted high into the area normally the reliant Grant would have it saved quite easily but took his eye of it and it ended up in the back of the net. 1-1. That gave the hosts renewed hopes of causing an upset they pushed forward looking to capitalise against the 10 men. Athletic were not out of this yet as they hoped to regain the lead. Frank ran down the left and crossed an inviting ball that Charlie snatched at but it broke back to him and his shot was saved by the keeper and Charlie knows he should have scored. A goal was coming unfortunately it came for the hosts. A long high ball was put into the area a mix up between Perry and Stephen whose clearance fell to their man just outside the box he played in his team mate who finished a well taken shot inside Grants left hand post 2-1. The Athletic manager had to make changes Jamie and wee Ronnie coming on for Toddy and Charlie. Jamie was making an immediate impact some nice lead up play put him clear and his effort was saved. With time running out Athletic are close to losing their unbeaten record and a possible treble. With 10 minutes remaining a long ball from defence that Frank done well to keep in and his cross fell to Jamie and only he knows how he missed. The pressure from Athletic was relentless they forced a corner in the last minute. This was their last chance to force the game into extra time Jamie’s fierce in swinging corner was punched into the net by the Watts keeper 2-2.

In extra time you had the feeling both teams would take penalties as one goal would have settled this entertaining cup tie. The hosts had a decent effort that just sailed over the bar after good lead up play down the right. Athletic had chances of their own when Jamie robbed their defender and tried to lob the keeper when he should have taken it in. As extra time came to an end Watts missed an opportunity to cause an upset failing to capitalise on their extra man advantage. However a lot of the credit must go to Athletic with their never say die attitude to see the game out and keep their unbeaten record intact.

Athletic lost the toss and had to go first in the penalty shoot out. Up stepped the hard working Goldie to put Athletic one up. Watts first penalty was put by the post advantage Athletic. Bobby was next up and he duly put Athletic two up placing it into the right hand corner of the net. 2-0. Watts then hit the post with their second. Athletic just had to keep their nerve. Wee Ronnie was next up and he made it three out of three. Watts now had to score and they did. Michael now had the chance to take Athletic through to the semis but his tame effort was saved. Watts next penalty was saved by Grant. Athletic go through 3-1 on penalties.

Glasgow Athletic were on their travels for the league match against Invac who we beat convincingly 6-2 at the start of the season.

Athletic made three changes to the starting line up Tucker came in for Paul who was sent off in the last game, Bobby came in for John and Jamie was preferred up front at the expense of Charlie.

In the early stages of the match the home team were doing most of the pressing and had a couple of shots from outside of the area. Athletic could not get to grips in the midfield area and were to far apart from the two strikers to offer decent support. You could sense the frustration throughout the team. However a cross from the right was met by Toddy but his effort went over. Invac were now the better team and their reward was coming, a ball down their left hand side caught the Athletic defence sleeping and the cross come shot got Grant scrambling to keep it out his clearance fell to their striker and his effort Squeezed over the line. 1-0 to the home side. Athletic were now arguing among themselves they now had to come from behind again. Half time.

Athletic started the second half a lot better and you could sense they had the ability to overturn the deficit. Athletic were pressing for the equaliser although their opponents remained a threat when they broke down the left the striker was one on one with the keeper and Grant saved well. That near miss seemed to spur Athletic into action and they played some nice football to score the equaliser. Frank played a one two with Tucker and he played a great through ball to Jamie who made no mistake when he put it past the keeper. 1-1. Was that the springboard for Athletic to now go on to take all three points? The home side had other ideas. Paul was brought on for Ronnie hopefully his pace would get behind the home defence. Athletic were creating and a move down the right was crossed into Toddy who just could not stretch far enough to make contact. It was now end to end and Invac would make Athletic pay by going 2-1 up. Athletic failed to clear their lines and their man had a shot from the edge of the box which took a deflection and looped over Grant into the net. 2-1.

There were still 20 minutes of the game to go plenty of time for Athletic to take something from this game. Paul made a good run from the right beat a couple of players and played it into Michael but he spurned the chance. As Athletic chased the game gaps were appearing and Athletic nearly and should have went 3-1 down when a slack pass back from Bobby let their man in but Grant saved again. The manager now with 10 minutes to go made two changes Stephen and wee Ronnie on for Toddy and Bobby. As Athletic were chasing the game Invac went up the park to make it 3-1. Tucker was playing for offside when it was obvious that he was on. As the match draws to a close Paul comes close but his shot goes into the side netting.

This was a disappointing result for the to title challengers. Invac and Glasgow Islay are the teams who have taken points of us this season. Both these teams are both strong and workmanlike it is something that we need to improve on. When it comes to playing football both these teams could and should not live with us. I think Andy was a big loss when he left to play Saturday afternoon football. We seem to have no physical presence in the middle of the park when we come up against teams like this. Also I was left wondering why [1] the manager left it till the last 10 minutes to make changes and [2] he brought on like for like. When you are 2-1 down in a game you need to score goals a defender and midfielder should have come off and two strikers brought on.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing.