Saturday Spotlight 18th January 2025
BSC Yellows | 18th January 2025
BSC Yellow are the 2011 A team competing within the top division in the Glasgow Central League. The coaches have recently moved the 2011 age group from the district league to the central league due to the higher levels of standard and organization in the central league. This has provided opportunities for the team to challenge and test themselves, for example in matches against the most recent Scottish cup victors Rossvale.
The team sits 10th in the league currently, which is disappointing for both players, coaches, and parents alike given the talent within the team. Max Warden is one such talent upfront - every defender’s worst nightmare.
Although the fixtures haven’t been in their favor, the yellows have played eight games accumulating seven points in total with two victories and one draw. However, the team faced three out of the top four early in the season, and it’s fair to say their opponents didn’t find it easy to break BSC down with two of the games both resulting in very narrow defeats at 3-2 against second and fourth place Carbrain BC Navys and Bannockburn Afc. Carbrain Navys even went on to defeat top of the league and holding Scottish cup champs Rossvale 3-1 right before the Christmas break, demonstrating the level BSC yellow are capable of competing at when switched on.
It's never ideal facing your tougher opponents early on and everyone knows BSC are slow starters, though it’s true that slow and steady supposedly wins the race. Although those who know him, will be aware coach Gareth wouldn’t agree with that. I will say I suspect this team will not stay in this unfulfilling position and will finish much higher, as they have games in hand on most of the teams around them and a lot of games to play against teams closer to them in the table.
BSC however this weekend got the luxury of a break from league business and hosted Stirling Albion from the division below at Peterson park in the third round of the regional cup. BSC would hope to make an improvement on their defeat to Carbrain BC Claret before the winter break.
The lower league side started the game on the upper hand displaying some good patterns of play. BSC found the first ten minutes hard to get a foot on the game, not conceding many dangerous chances but struggling to find their feet a bit especially in the middle of the park.
Although this team do have a rough history with nine in the morning kick offs, they came into the game not long after the fifteen minute mark, as BSC struck first with a well worked goal created by Max Warden who instinctively turned the defender at the edge of the box, playing a cute and clever forward pass to Callum Reilly who arrowed it off the post into the far corner.
BSC really started steamrolling their opposition, subjecting them to an array of non-stop attacks before finally striking home again about ten minutes before half time with a well-timed half volley from Sonny Campbell. BSC went into the second half feeling pretty good about themselves, and there was of course the post team talk with coaches Gareth Laurie and Mike Gunn before the second half kicked off.
The majority of this second half was somewhat cagey, and neither side created much in terms of opportunity, until Max carried the ball inside the box and smacked it right at the goaly, unfortunately missing the chance to get his first of the game and running on to slap the post in frustration.
Not long after, BSC snapped into second gear when play broke down at left back with Joel Adler playing a quick one two with Rem Cox to beat the press, allowing Joel to carry the ball high up the pitch before playing another one two with Callum before playing it across the box, paving the way for Max to easily slot the ball in the goal, and putting BSC three nil up.
Then, in the dying embers of the game, Max curled his second into the far-right top corner, after holding on to the ball for what his teammates and coaches might argue was too long, but you can’t argue with class - and that’s what his finish was.
Daniel Laurie was left shivering in his goal due to a good performance from BSC, the team played well throughout the full ninety minutes, not letting up much opportunity for their visitors. For me, man of the match was Callum Reilly, who put in a solid performance in centre mid where BSC struggled at the start. Certainly, when he got his foothold in the game, it changed for the home team.
BSC Yellows will next face top of the league Rossvale at home. If the boys can take the football they played in spells of this cup tie, then they can definitely get a result.
