Bens bounced back from last month's Cup defeat by Cambuslang to take maximum points at Tinto Park this afternoon. The Bens' recovery was all the more marked considering their recent poor form in the League which culminated in a terrible display last week against Neilston.
For today's match, Bens followers were inspired by the teamsheet which had Dexy Wingate back in the heart of the defence. The former Bens favourite re-signed for the Tinto club this season but has been trying to shake off a back injury for the last few months and this delayed his appearance in a Bens jersey. Dexy lasted just under an hour in this first match back before retiring as a precautionary measure with a tight hamstring.
Bens also featured a trialist in the other centre back position. The time required for this new defensive formation to settle may have contributed to the opener for Cambuslang who wasted no time in grabbing the lead from a header after 12 minutes.
The home side came close after a quarter of an hour when McInnes, today at right back, forced his way into the box finding McKenna who skipped to the side of the defender, releasing a shot which the Lang keeper did well to block with his legs.
McKenna and Waddell were combining well with the former laying the ball off for Waddell to shoot from the edge of the box; the shot looked netbound until the keeper managed to turn it onto the top of the bar.
This looked like the last chance of the half until Bens won possession in the midfield and the pass released Waddell into the right side of the box. His run drew the keeper before squaring for Gary McKenna to tap into the empty net.
Bens' centre McKenna was quick out of the blocks after the break smashing a volley off the crossbar from 18 yards.
Bens took the lead on the hour mark from the penalty spot following handball: Steven Waddell netted confidently.
Cambuslang came close ten minutes later when a cross was whipped in and bobbled in front of the striker who directed it with his knee onto the top of the bar.
Bens made a further breakthrough on 80 minutes when they got numbers into the box and showed calmness in front of goal working the passes to the back post where Gary McKenna converted with ease.
Minutes later fury erupted in the Cambuslang ranks when Quinn clashed with their striker in mid-air with the Bens keeper dropping to the ground- play continued as Lang held possession, had players in the box and an open goal, then the referee blew to stop play as Quinn had not recovered. The Lang players felt the Bens' keeper had stayed down and arguments broke out all around the referee. To his credit, the official managed to restore order without booking anyone and was able to restart play with a dropped ball.
The visitors were probably further aggrieved by this denied chance when they grabbed a second goal with only minutes remaining.
But Bens held on for a good win after a much improved performance and next week face the ultimate test travelling to runaway League leaders Glasgow Perthshire.
BENBURB: Quinn, McInnes, Smith, Wingate, Gupwell (T), Wright, S.Jackson, Carroll, McKenna, Waddell, Mackenzie.
Saturday, 19 November 2011
Central District League Division One
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* Benburb 3 Cambuslang Rangers 2 *
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* Benburb 3 Cambuslang Rangers 2 *
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Saturday, 12 November 2011
Bens Christmas Stocking Filler
Bens are pleased to say that they've now located a recording of the 1980 Scottish Junior Cup Final which is in DVD format. The club hopes to make copies available shortly. Details will be posted soon on the website.
The club would like to thank everyone involved so far and hope for further interest when the DVD becomes available.
The club would like to thank everyone involved so far and hope for further interest when the DVD becomes available.
Farmers Boys In Early Harvest
After two away matches at Shettleston and Vale of Leven which only yielded a point, Bens were keen to get back to winning ways in their home match with Neilston today. The two sides faced each other in a meaningless Sectional League Cup match earlier in the season where Neilston emerged victorious.
And so it proved again today.
The visitors made short work of the job this afternoon and come half-time the points were good as gone to the red corner.
The opener came in the eleventh minute. The Neilston midfield worked their way across to the right hand side and despite their midfielder 'air kicking' his initial cross attempt, he recovered to nutmeg the first Bens defender and force a corner with a deflection off the second. The corner was played to the front post, where Lavery's attempted clearance sent it spinning backwards across goal and the Neilston striker jabbed it home from close in.
Neilston again had the ball in the net on 15 minutes but a late whistle pulled play back for offside.
The second came on the half hour mark when the Neilston centre steamed past the Bens defenders on the left side and squared to his fellow striker; he had time to turn and shot past Quinn with the home defence too slow to react.
On 40 minutes, Neilston again made it all look easy as they snatched their third with a midfield burst into the right side of the box and a dangerous sweep onto the six yard line where their centre despatched the ball firmly behind Quinn.
Bens brought on Gillan for Lavery at half time and rejigged their defence for the second period.
McKenna forced the Neilston keeper into a save from his volley just after the break and Shane Jackson had his effort saved by the keeper's legs after Waddell had expertly released him into the box but the defensive reshuffle was more about stemming the tide than producing a fightback.
A weak performance all round by Bens today with their haphazard defending, lack of bite in midfield and poor penetration upfront giving them plenty to think about before the visit of Cambuslang Rangers next week- another side who have already left Tinto this season with a cup victory.
BENBURB: Quinn, C Jackson, Lavery, McInnes, Wright, Carroll, Gibson, S Jackson, McKenna, Waddell, Mackenzie.
And so it proved again today.
The visitors made short work of the job this afternoon and come half-time the points were good as gone to the red corner.
The opener came in the eleventh minute. The Neilston midfield worked their way across to the right hand side and despite their midfielder 'air kicking' his initial cross attempt, he recovered to nutmeg the first Bens defender and force a corner with a deflection off the second. The corner was played to the front post, where Lavery's attempted clearance sent it spinning backwards across goal and the Neilston striker jabbed it home from close in.
Neilston again had the ball in the net on 15 minutes but a late whistle pulled play back for offside.
The second came on the half hour mark when the Neilston centre steamed past the Bens defenders on the left side and squared to his fellow striker; he had time to turn and shot past Quinn with the home defence too slow to react.
On 40 minutes, Neilston again made it all look easy as they snatched their third with a midfield burst into the right side of the box and a dangerous sweep onto the six yard line where their centre despatched the ball firmly behind Quinn.
Bens brought on Gillan for Lavery at half time and rejigged their defence for the second period.
McKenna forced the Neilston keeper into a save from his volley just after the break and Shane Jackson had his effort saved by the keeper's legs after Waddell had expertly released him into the box but the defensive reshuffle was more about stemming the tide than producing a fightback.
A weak performance all round by Bens today with their haphazard defending, lack of bite in midfield and poor penetration upfront giving them plenty to think about before the visit of Cambuslang Rangers next week- another side who have already left Tinto this season with a cup victory.
BENBURB: Quinn, C Jackson, Lavery, McInnes, Wright, Carroll, Gibson, S Jackson, McKenna, Waddell, Mackenzie.
Central District League Division One
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* Benburb 0 Neilston 3 *
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* Benburb 0 Neilston 3 *
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Saturday, 22 October 2011
Stevie Whitehead
Bens supporters at the recent Sectional League Cup were surprised and delighted (obviously not the scoreline) by the appearance of Stevie Whitehead as a spectator. The former Bens centre-forward now lives in Australia and follows the club's fortunes through the website but had taken time out on a recent visit home to watch the present day side.
Stevie, with Eddie McKim, formed the most formidable Bens frontline pairing in modern times. A successful partnership that took the Bens to the Scottish Junior Cup Final in 1980.
Stevie has made available to the Bens, photos taken of that memorable first match at Hampden and the club is in the process of having them reproduced to display in the clubhouse.
Stevie has made a request to the club on the availability of a DVD of the match which he'd like as a memento of the part he and his teammates played in the Bens' history. As yet the club has been unable to unearth a copy of the film. The match was broadcast live on STV and may have been recorded on video by a supporter or follower of Junior football.
The club would request that if anyone in the wider Junior circle of supporters has a copy of the broadcast could they contact the Bens through the website.
Whatever format the original recording is in is not important as the club will arrange to have it transferred to DVD if required and return the original and an enhanced copy in DVD to the owner.
Thanks for any assistance anyone can provide.
Stevie, with Eddie McKim, formed the most formidable Bens frontline pairing in modern times. A successful partnership that took the Bens to the Scottish Junior Cup Final in 1980.
Stevie has made available to the Bens, photos taken of that memorable first match at Hampden and the club is in the process of having them reproduced to display in the clubhouse.
Stevie has made a request to the club on the availability of a DVD of the match which he'd like as a memento of the part he and his teammates played in the Bens' history. As yet the club has been unable to unearth a copy of the film. The match was broadcast live on STV and may have been recorded on video by a supporter or follower of Junior football.
The club would request that if anyone in the wider Junior circle of supporters has a copy of the broadcast could they contact the Bens through the website.
Whatever format the original recording is in is not important as the club will arrange to have it transferred to DVD if required and return the original and an enhanced copy in DVD to the owner.
Thanks for any assistance anyone can provide.
Bens Draw A Veil Over Cup Defeats
After last week's West of Scotland cup exit to Troon, Bens were back on league business facing Vale of Clyde at Tinto Park this afternoon.
The East End side headed for Govan having conceded an average of over 3 goals a game in their six outings to date while Bens were hoping to get their home record back on track following their loss to the Ants in the league and the two cup defeats.
The Bens opened spritely and even although their final ball wasn't perfect, exposed the shakiness in the Vale backline with each attack.
The opener came on the half hour mark after a Bens free-kick on the right hand side. The cross in was cleared towards the halfway line where a Bens defender intercepted and fed a ball low into the box on the right side. Shane Jackson was quickly onto the pass, slipping the ball past the advancing goalkeeper from a tight angle and into the net.
A well taken goal from the Bens' newcomer who displayed a lot of energy buzzing around the midfield area in the opening stages.
Into the second half, Bens knew they'd need at least another goal to settle the match and guard against any Troon style comebacks.
They'd no problem taking the game to Vale with Gibson and Mackenzie playing wide, giving the midfield outlets and stretching the visitors' defence. It was from a move on the right on 57 minutes that Bens' second came: Gibson was tight on the byeline but twisted and turned to work the opening he required to flight a perfect cross in for Max Asante to head high past the Vale keeper.
Six minutes later the match was over as a contest when Shane Jackson grabbed his second and Bens' third. The eager midfielder made another of his runs into the box getting on the end of the pass to convert from a tight angle and cap an excellent afternoon's work.
The Vale must have realised their efforts were in vain on 75 minutes when hesitation in the Bens defence allowed the unmarked centre to get on the end of a cross only to see his header beaten out by Quinn and in the closing minutes when the same player got on the end of a rifled cross only to see his six yard, point blank header blocked once again by the Bens' keeper.
A good performance from Bens moving the ball well in forward areas, particularly in the second half while there is still room for improvement defensively but today's efforts were rewarded with a clean sheet and three valuable points.
Next week is the second round of the Scottish Junior Cup but Bens travel to Shettleston for one of the few league matches scheduled.
BENBURB: Quinn, C Jackson, Lavery, McInnes, Baikie, Wright, Gibson, S Jackson, Asante, Waddell, Mackenzie.
The East End side headed for Govan having conceded an average of over 3 goals a game in their six outings to date while Bens were hoping to get their home record back on track following their loss to the Ants in the league and the two cup defeats.
The Bens opened spritely and even although their final ball wasn't perfect, exposed the shakiness in the Vale backline with each attack.
The opener came on the half hour mark after a Bens free-kick on the right hand side. The cross in was cleared towards the halfway line where a Bens defender intercepted and fed a ball low into the box on the right side. Shane Jackson was quickly onto the pass, slipping the ball past the advancing goalkeeper from a tight angle and into the net.
A well taken goal from the Bens' newcomer who displayed a lot of energy buzzing around the midfield area in the opening stages.
Into the second half, Bens knew they'd need at least another goal to settle the match and guard against any Troon style comebacks.
They'd no problem taking the game to Vale with Gibson and Mackenzie playing wide, giving the midfield outlets and stretching the visitors' defence. It was from a move on the right on 57 minutes that Bens' second came: Gibson was tight on the byeline but twisted and turned to work the opening he required to flight a perfect cross in for Max Asante to head high past the Vale keeper.
Six minutes later the match was over as a contest when Shane Jackson grabbed his second and Bens' third. The eager midfielder made another of his runs into the box getting on the end of the pass to convert from a tight angle and cap an excellent afternoon's work.
The Vale must have realised their efforts were in vain on 75 minutes when hesitation in the Bens defence allowed the unmarked centre to get on the end of a cross only to see his header beaten out by Quinn and in the closing minutes when the same player got on the end of a rifled cross only to see his six yard, point blank header blocked once again by the Bens' keeper.
A good performance from Bens moving the ball well in forward areas, particularly in the second half while there is still room for improvement defensively but today's efforts were rewarded with a clean sheet and three valuable points.
Next week is the second round of the Scottish Junior Cup but Bens travel to Shettleston for one of the few league matches scheduled.
BENBURB: Quinn, C Jackson, Lavery, McInnes, Baikie, Wright, Gibson, S Jackson, Asante, Waddell, Mackenzie.
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