Saturday spotlight 8th of February

BSC O7s | 8th February

The BSC 07 team play in the Paisley and Johnstone division two, and it’s fair to say that a tough season has been lived by the side so far, having only accumulated ten points in fifteen games.

The team haven’t won since late November last year in their 5-2 win over Morton Community, although the games they have played have all been against the top four, including an impressive 2-2 draw with top of the league, Carolside SC Athletic 2007. On February 8th, they faced Renfrew at home at Scotstoun leisure centre. Renfrew sit 8th in the league, four spots above BSC, but only ten points separate the teams, making this match a big one, especially for BSC who looked to gain some ground on their opponents.

As many of you will know, there’s just always something about watching a BSC team play at Scotstoun, it’s always a cracker and this one definitely was.

The first big chance of the game fell to Renfrew around the 17th minute, when some sloppy play from BSC’s midfield lead to the opposition right winger breaking through and having a chance, but this was comfortably saved by Kyle Kerr.

BSC were absorbing the majority of the pressure in the first ten, fifteen minutes or so, Renfrew creating more chances but all comfortable saves for Kyle. Despite being under more pressure, it was positive to see the home side bravely and religiously playing out from the back, and trying to play organic football.

After about twenty minutes passed, the balance of play began to shift in BSC’s favour. They had started to play some smooth football and were well and truly in the game now, creating a couple of half chances, especially down the left side with Eithan Antony.

Despite being on top and having should have scored maybe one or two, BSC conceded a penalty on the 35th minute, through some indecisiveness in midfield leading to Renfrew’s striker being one on one with Kyle who wiped him out. But Kyle made himself a hero and saved the penalty, keeping his side in the game only ten minutes before half time, which would have been a tough time for BSC to concede, as they had been the better side.

Seconds before the end of the half a free kick is crossed into the box and finds its way to Charlie McKnight who comfortably heads it into the bottom left corner; a great end to the first half.

BSC started the second half the way they finished the first, on top. Around the 50th minute Vinny Kholi had a massive chance to put his side two up when the ball falls to him outside the penalty spot, but is was unable to convert.

Around this time the opposition began to grow into the game and began looking like they were going to stick around and put up a fight.Then coach Brian made a change that ruptured the balance of the whole game so far, as Josh Muir came on very shortly into the second half. I’ve had the pleasure of playing with Josh Muir a couple of times through his time at the twenties, so knew he would make an impact on the game.

Almost instantaneously Josh made his impact, as inside the box he tried his luck and his shot is deflected off an opposition defender and found its way into the net. This gave BSC their cushion around the 60th minute, a cushion they had been aggressively searching for early on in this second half.

For me that was BSC’s problem in the first half, no one wanted to be brave and take responsibility, and by the end of the game it was clear that was all Josh wanted to do - get the ball and shoot, evidently an out an out striker that was missing in the first half.

Then, one minute after his first, the ball broke to Josh again inside the box and he coolly curled it into the fair right corner, finishing his opponents. The game finished 3-0 to the home side.

This was an exciting game to watch, I honestly loved how the 07s played out so fearlessly from the back. A lot of young players, especially defenders, struggle with that want and desire to take the ball in any position at anytime, but this side were persistent with that which was encouraging to see.

Man of the match goes to Josh Muir for obvious reasons, and I suspect he might not start on the bench next match when they face St Cadocs Rovers 07s on the 22nd of February.

Although before substitution, Josh, stole the show, my man of the match was definitely Gonzalo Chavez who was extremely firm in the back line at all times and didn’t give anything up helping his side to a rare clean sheet.