YFS
Gleniffer Thistle fired an amazing eleven goals past unfortunate Rutherglen Glencairn Reds on Friday to secure a place in the next round of the SYFA West Region Cup.
There would have been a very early goal had it not been for Glencairn's Christopher McMahon. Thistle striker James Clark jinked inside before laying it off for Scott Smith, whose first shot was blocked by keeper Callum Welsh, and his second by defender McMahon.
The first goal of the game came from Scott Smith, who had already tested Welsh a few times before netting the breakthrough. After skinning his marker on the edge of the box, his shot was parried back by the keeper, and Smith was able to finish the rebound to open the scoring.
Clark made it two soon after, starting the game as he meant to go on. After a fantastic run down the right wing, Reece Robertson drove a low cross in to Clark who only needed to tap it in to make it 0-2!
The third goal came in the 20th minute, once again through Scott Smith. He latched onto a through ball, before taking a touch round the keeper and nabbing his second of the game.
Just minutes later, the referee was forced to point to the spot. After some lovely footwork from Max Brown, which he displayed throughout the game, the midfielder released a thunderous shot that cannoned off the crossbar. His central partner Ross Smith picked up the rebound, and would have tucked it away had he not been tripped from behind. He dusted himself down and slotted the penalty into the bottom corner to make it 0-4!
Glencairn almost got a goal through Kevin McColligan, after a pass from Matthew Glass saw him through on goal. He was able to round the keeper, but his shot was not strong enough to cross the line.
The final goal of the first half came seconds before the whistle, and it saw Scott Smith complete his hat-trick. After some lovely build-up play, Smith found himself with an easy task of tapping the ball into the empty net.