YFS
It was a clash of the titans in the Glasgow and District under 19's second division this weekend as two strong title challengers met each other at Greenfield. Travelling side Rutherglen Glencairn were looking to bounce back from a poor away defeat against Dunoon whereas Vale of Clyde were looking to stamp authority on this league and remain in the title race. Both sides knew how big a match this is and three points was vital.
The game started off very cagey with neither side looking to give away anything stupid, the first fifteen minutes saw a lack of chances but more football being played in the midfield and both teams testing their opposition with long balls.
As the half went on some loose passes from both sides and rather sloppy defending meant that the decent crowd who had gathered to watch this game finally had some goal mouth action to see and the first real chance came the way of the Glens when Christopher Mallon used his body well to hold of the defender but his shot was rather tame and James McCarthur in the Vale goal held with ease.
Kieran McDonald's pace was starting to cause the Glens problems even although they were playing with a sweeper the Vale forward still managed to get in behind them a couple of times and this was how the deadlock would be broke when McDonald burst down the left side cut in and his shot was parried by the keeper out to the feet of James Milne who had an easy tap in to an empty goal.
Rutherglen knew that even though the home side has struck first blood there was still a long way to go before they could even think about defeat and the Glens started to pile on a bit of pressure trying to exploit the Vale's left hand side and pull a goal back.
Finally the Glen's pressure paid off when they were awarded a penalty. Conor McCole was played in behind the Vale defense and Glen Wood rushing back to try and stop any danger seemed to have clipped the Glens forward's heals and a spot kick was awarded, McCole himself stepped up and fired home from the spot to level the scoring again.
Just before half time the Glens management would be taking credit for their second as substitute Richard Reston was allowed to much time in the box and fired into the top right hand corner leaving the Vale keeper no chance and sending his time in with a well worked half time lead.