Bannockburn Amateur 19`s Season 2008 - 2009 

Bannockburn Amateur 19`s are proud to have the assistance of the following sponsors:

Kilgannon Motors, AIMS Facilities Management Ltd, Robertson Training, The Tartan Arms (Bannockburn) 

and JM Civil Engineering (Dunblane)

Bannockburn Amateur  youth team were formed in 2005-2006 season and have the following honours:

League Cup Winners Seasons 2005-2006 & 2006-2007, Runners up Season

E-mail Gordon at bannockburnafc@aol.com for more information or any items you would like to see added on our web site.
For information on the league our youth team plays in check out the FVFDA web site for the  fixtures, league standings and competitions which the 19`s will be playing in this season.  

Goal Scorers ( All competitions )

Andy Neilson 18,  Sean Gallagher  8, Marc McAuley 7,  Craig Thomson 7,  Chris Ferry  6,  Andy McGown  5,   Johnny Reynolds 5,  Barry McKeown 2 ,  Ross Evans 2 , 

Garry Hamilton 1

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Links:
Forth Valley Football Development Association      East Stirlingshire Colts FC    Scottish Amateur FA    Sunnyside United   Tullibody United    Stirling City FC      Football Central 

Player Profiles will be available soon....................

Bannockburn Amateur 19`s Match Reports    ( Season 2008 - 2009 )

Bannockburn made the short trip to Falkirk on Saturday for their second round Midland regional cup tie with Sunnyside United and put in a good professional performance.  Burn scored with only five minutes on the clock when a  pass from the right from Chris Ferry into Marc McAuley left him one on one with the keeper and he made no mistake by putting it in the bottom corner. The second followed soon after. A short corner from the right was taken to Johnny Reynolds and he cut inside and bent the ball into the top corner with his left foot to make it 2. The third came after a foray down the left resulted in a corner which was whipped in by Ross Evans and Reynolds was able to take it down and power it home. The fourth arrived a couple of minutes later. A ball over the top sent McAuley through but despite having his shot saved Craig Thomson was there to follow up. The fifth followed some good passing down the right and the ball was laid on for McAuley to make it five before half time. Sunnyside then grabbed 2 quick goals just after half time, but to their credit Burn kept pressing and got their just rewards. A cross from the right by Steven Christie was met by Reynolds and he headed it down past the keeper to complete his hat trick. The seventh came as a result of a good run down the left from Evans. His run took him onto the box, but his shot squirmed from the keepers grasp and Thomson was there to stab it home and round off an excellent all round performance from Bannockburn and seal their place in the last 16.        

FVFDA League Fixtutre, Saturday 8th November 08
Milton FC 1 - 3 Bannockburn Amateur                                            Scorers, Neilson (2), Ferry

Bannockburn maintained their 100% league record with a hard earned win against local rivals Milton in the first ever local derby between the two youth  teams. The crowd of spectators were to see four goals scored in a nine minute spell of the first half. Both teams started brightly with chances at both ends with plenty of hard but fair challenges in midfield setting the tone for the fixture, but it was the visitors who opened the scoring on 28 minutes with a well placed strike from  Andy Neilson.  Neilson again had the ball in the net 3 minutes later, both of Andy`s goals being set up by Chris Ferry after some good passing from the Burn team. Neilson turned provider for Burn`s  third goal  when the home keeper parried  his firmly struck shot and Ferry was quickest to react with a header over the top of the keeper and into the net. The home team scored a well taken penalty on 37 mins and although chances were created by both teams after the break, the scoring finished at 3 - 1 to Bannockburn with Steven Hogg in the visitors goal equal to everything that came his way.

Scottish Cup Round 3, Saturday 1st November 2008
Bannockburn Amateur 0 - 4 Colony Park

Bannockburn`s Scottish cup run and only defeat of season 2008 - 2009 so far,came to an end by Inverurie`s Colony Park  who dominated for large spells of the game.
Both teams started the game at a blistering pace. Sean Gallagher was set up by Andy Neilson in the early stages of the game and the midfielders shot fizzed just over the visitors bar. Chris Ferry spotted Sean McFarlane  running into the visitors box and another effort on goal was just off target from the big defenders powerful strike. The visitors gained possession of the game after the initial Burn wave of attacks and  started to turn the screw. A powerful shot came back off the Burn cross bar and with both sets of players tackling hard for the ball the visitors were awarded a free kick after James  Kilgannon was adjudged to have stopped a visiting striker running in on goal and the free kick struck the Burn goal post. Straight from the rebound Burn were driving forward with Craig Thomson bringing out a great save from the Colony Park goal keeper. On the 15 minute mark the visitors had the ball in the Bannockburn net from a well worked corner that caught Burn out. The home team responded with a well timed run by Ferry but the goal keeper watched the strike go just over. Andy McGown drove in a free kick and the keeper did well to hold on to the ball as Marc McAuley was well placed to strike if the ball had gone loose. Ferry had another decent effort go over the bar when the midfielder had more time than he anticipated.
Thomson floated in a corner which Gallagher made a well timed run for only to see his header go just wide of the post. Johhny Reynolds was next to try his luck for Burn with a well taken strike which went wide of the target. 5 minutes after the break the visitors went two goals ahead after some good passing  and movement put the ball past Hogg. McGown responded with a surging run and struck the ball from 40 yds which narrowly went past. Burn were having a good spell at this point with Reynolds and Neilson both testing the keeper on a few occasions. Hogg pulled of a great save to keep the visitors at bay but it was to little to late as the visitors got their third goal from a corner which Burn failed to defend properly. McAuley was unlucky to see his quick turn and strike in the box just go wide of the post. Neilson headed just over the bar before  a visiting striker completed Burn`s misery with a half volley from 30yds out which left Steven Hogg with no chance of getting near. Ross Evans provided some good link up play on the right which the Burn strikers were getting on the end of, but it just wasn`t to be Burn`s day. Plenty of missed chances for Burn to ponder on, but the visitors are the team who go through to round four.

FVFDA  League Fixture, Saturday 18th October 2008
Glenrothes Strollers 0, Bannockburn Amateur 4                                 Scorers, Thomson (2), McGown, Neilson             

FVFDA League Fixture, Saturday 4th October 2008,
Bannockburn 5, East Stirlingshire Colts 2                                            Scorers,  Neilson, Gallagher (2)  McAuley, McKeown   
 
East Stirlingshire 19`s were the visitors to Ladywell Park for this FVFDA League fixture and a difficult game was expected as previous fixtures panned out to be last season. The visitors were a team that Burn always found it difficult to beat as the games were usually separated by the odd goal and played in the most fiercely competitive but fair manor. This game proved to be no different. 
Burn were attacking the visitors goal from the first whistle and were rewarded after 6 minutes when leading scorer Andy Neilson got on the end of a looping Craig Thomson fantastic header and fired past the visiting keeper to put Burn in the lead. The game was stopped for a few minutes to allow treatment to one of the East Stirlingshire defenders who in trying to stop the ball crossing the line was injured when he colided heavily with the goal frame. The visitors were almost caught cold when a quick free kick by Andy McGown shaved the post. A Ross Evans corner was next to test the visitors with Andy Neilson just heading over from 8 yards. The visitors pulled a goal back when the Burn defenders left an East Stirlingshire striker to run in on goal who placed the ball past Steven Hogg with a good strike. The visitors went further ahead when a poor Burn clearance landed at the feet of a visiting striker who made no mistake in putting the ball in the net. Goal keeper Steven Hogg had a few excellent saves which gave Burn hope that they could drive on and take all three points. The Burn defence of Sean McFarlane, James Kilgannon, Andy McGown and Steven Christie were now winning every ball that came at them and for the remainder of the game there was no way past them for the visitors.Burn got back on level terms just before half time when Sean Gallagher got on the end of a Marc McAuley pass to slot the ball home.
After the interval Burn stepped up the pace of the game and with substitute Steven Cooper playing accurate passes to the midfielders the balance was now swinging towards the home team and the Burn pressure paid off when Marc McAuley scored from close range after Chris Ferry played in a free kick. Burn were now putting the pressure on the visitors with good attacking football which resulted in Barry McKeown heading the ball over the line from a Chris Ferry corner to add to the home teams winning margin. John McMinn and Chris Ferry were providing plenty of balls into the visitors box for the Burn strikers to work with, one of which set up the 5th goal for the home team coming from an Andy McGown free kick which Sean Gallagher headed into the net to complete the scoring.

FVFDA League Fixture, Saturday 27th September 2008
Sunnyside United 1, Bannockburn 6                                                    Scorers, Gallagher (2), Ferry (2), McGown (2)  

Bannockburn made the short trip to Falkirk in which was anticipated as a tricky fixture as Sunnyside United had picked up a few wins in previous weeks with some new players on board helping their cause. Burn started brightly with Chris Ferry and Sean McFarlane both coming close to opening the scoring for Burn with decent efforts on goal. After some good movement from Marc McAuley and James Kilgannon, James saw his shot fly just over the home teams goal. Burn kept the pressure on and broke the dead lock when a John McMinn cross was struck firmly by Ferry over the top of the home keeper and into the net to put Burn one goal ahead. Burn keeper Steven Hogg kept the score at 1-0 with a first class save on 15 mins which proved to be a warning for Burn.
Burn were taking the game to Sunnyside and when Sean Gallagher was judged to have been brought down in the box, Andy McGown placed the penalty kick beyond the home team keeper with a powerfully well taken spot kick. Again after some good passing and movement from back to front from Burn, Ferry struck his second goal of the game with a right footed shot. A perfectly weighted McMinn cross was met by top scorer Andy Neilson  who watched his header just go wide of the post. Marc McAuley had a strike just off target before McMinn`s cross was finished by Gallagher with a well taken strike to put Burn 4 goals ahead. Sunnyside pulled a goal back with a well taken free kick which left Hogg scrambling across his goal only to pick the ball out the net. Into the second half and Burn were applying the pressure with McGown and McFarlane both coming close and when Ross Evans drilled the ball across the home teams box after a surging run, McGown was well placed to tap home from 8 yds. Burn continued the attacking football and completed the scoring with a McMinn cross which Gallagher finished from close range.Goal keeper Hogg had very little to do in the game as the Burn defence of Cooper, Christie, McGown and McFarlane were comfortably dealing with the attacks the home team were providing, but Hogg had to pull off a magnificent save from a long range Sunnyside strike which kept Burn in control of the game. Neilson, Evans and Craig Thomson were pushing back the home defence in the final few minutes but the result finished at 6-1 to the visitors.

Scottish Cup Round 2, Saturday 20th September 2008
Bannockburn 4, Westwood Rovers 0                                                   Scorers, Neilson (2) Ferry, Gallagher  
     
East Kilbride`s Westwood Rovers were the visitors to Ladywell Park and after 8 mins it was the visitors who sparked Burn into life when a shot crashed of the Burn post. Bannockburn`s John McMinn and Steven Cooper were making good runs down the right which was causing problems for the visitors and when Sean Gallagher played a pass into the feet of Chris Ferry, the midfielder hit an unstoppable shot into the roof of the Westwood net to give Burn a 1 goal lead.
Andy Neilson was next to come close with a flashing  header which went just over the visitors bar. Burn went further ahead when a Ferry cross was headed home from close range from Gallagher on 15mins. The visitors had a period in the game where they were trying to put Burn on the back foot but as they were pushing forward, Burn broke away and some good passing and a driven ball into the box from Ferry left Neilson with a tap in to put Burn three goals ahead after 38 mins. Cooper cleared  a ball of the Burn goal line and then Burn pushed forward with some quick passing and Neilson put the game beyond doubt with a well taken strike after being set up from his strike partner Craig Thomson on 48 mins and Burn were now in control of the game.
More chances were to come for Burn with the visitors soaking up some Burn attacks with Neilson coming close, Marc McAuley having a strike rebound of the post and a Ross Evans strike just going wide. The Burn defence did well in what was a stuffy game at times but Burn progress to the next round.

Scottish Cup Round 1, Saturday 6th September 2008
Bannockburn3, Abronhill Thistle 1.                                                    Scorer, Neilson (3)    

Burn started well  with Andy Neilson  creating good chances in the 2nd and 4th minute of the game. Just as Burn were attacking the visitors goal  a break away from Abronhill almost caught Burn out and a great saving tackle from Johnny Reynolds kept Burn in the game.Goal keeper Hogg sent Ross Evans on a run down the left and Ross sent in an inviting cross and a Reynolds header went just over the vistors bar. Midfielder Craig Thomson was next to test the visitors goal with an accurate shot from 20yds. The scoring was opened  with a forward ball played by Chris Ferry to Marc McAuley who played in his strike partner Neilson, who was moving towards goal and played a reverse pass for Andy to slot into the bottom corner to put Burn 1 goal ahead. Burn were pressing for a second goal when Ross Evans floated in a cross which went just wide of the visitors goal from Neilson. 65 Mins gone and Neilson got his second goal after a period of Burn pressure. 1 minute later Neilson scored his hat trick after composing himself for a fine strike which beat the visiting goal keeper. The visitors scored a breakaway goal on 75 mins after the Burn defence failed to shut down the Abronhill strikers. Substitute Sean Gallagher shot just wide from an Andy McGown long range pass which would have eased Burns winning margin. Centre back Andy McGown put in a goal saving challenge in the final few minutes to deny the visitors any chance of coming back into the game.

FVFDA League Fixture, Saturday 30th August 08
Tullibody Community 2, Bannockburn3.                                              Scorers, Neilson, Ferry, McAuley

An away fixture to last seasons league champions was always going to be a difficult fixture and so it proved to be. Tullibody are a team who let their opponents play, but can pick you off when they step up a gear and the Burn players were reminded of this before kick off.
Burn were fast of the mark and on the first venture into the Tullibody box Andy Neilson had the ball in the home team net with a well taken shot. 1-0 to the visitors. Tullibody came more into the game and scored an equaliser when Burn did not clear the ball when it was in the box. Tullibody scored again and Burn were on the back foot for a time in the game. Hard work and sticking to the passing game was now opening up opportunities for Burn with Craig Thomson, Marc McAuley, Chris Ferry and Andy Nelison all coming close with good efforts on the Tullibody goal. Chris Ferry spotted the home keeper to the side of his goal and floated in a great shot from the touch line which beat Ritchie in the Tullibody goal. Chris again put in a good cross, this time from a corner and Marc McAuley made a quick run to the near post and flashed a header past the home keeper. Great result for Burn but the team had to work hard to earn the win.

FVFDA League Fixture, Thursday 28th August 2008
BannockburnAmateur 5, Crieff Juniors 4.                                             Scorers, Neilson (2), McGown, Hamilton, Ferry

20 Mins into the game and Burn were 4-0 up. 90 mins into the game and Burn were happy to hold on to a 5-4 win!
Burn started the game on fire with great passing and quick movement from the midfield and front players and after 7 mins Andy Neilson opened the scoring with a powerful  well placed strike. Johnny Reynolds then came close with a looping shot from the touch line which deflected back off the Crieff bar with no takers. Bannockburn continued to press and scored again with a great header from Andy McGown which was the result of a floated ball from Chris Ferry. Craig Thomson was working hard and proves to be a good foil for Andy Neilson. Craig almost scored but his shot went just over the Crieff bar. Craig Thomson was brought down in the box and Garry Hamilton stepped up to  score from the spot. Andy Neilson was again amongst the goals with another opportunist strike and Chris Ferry completed the scoring on 55 mins. For the second game in succession, Andy McGown cleared a certain net bound ball off the Burn goal line.Burn looked good going forward but took our foot of the gas at the back when we should have known better.

FVFDA League Fixture, Saturday 23rd August 08
BannockburnAmateur 3, Rosyth United 1:                                             Scorers, Neilson, McGown, Gallagher.

Rosyth United are another team competing at 19`s for their first season and it turned out to be another tough game following on from Bannockburn’s 1-0 away win to Sunnyside Thistle in Midweek.
Rosyth were creating very little chances early on in the game due to Bannockburn forcing the visitors to play deep into their own half of the field and on their second venture into the Bannockburn box, one of the Rosyth players went down and the referee awarded a penalty. The Burn players were looking at each other in disbelief and there were no shouts for a penalty from the away support to add to Bannockburn’s dismay. The result remained at 1-0 to the visitors at half time, with Bannockburn creating plenty goal scoring opportunities but none were taken.
The second half was a better display from the Bannockburn team as they were now getting the short passing moving quickly and Andy Neilson leveled the scoring with a well taken shot shortly after the break. An Andy McGown trademark free kick was to follow from 20yds out and left the keeper with no chance of saving Andy’s powerful strike into the back of the net.
Substitute Sean Gallagher completed the scoring with a well taken power full drive 15 mins from the end. Next fixture for Bannockburn are Crieff Juniors at New Ladywell Park, Thursday 28th Aug 08.

FVFDA League Fixture, Thursday 21st August 2008
Sunnyside Thistle 0, BannockburnAmateur 1:                                      Scorer, Reynolds.

This was our opening league fixture against one of last seasons under 17`s teams who are playing their first season as 19`s and a stiff test it proved to be. Sunnyside Park in Falkirk where the grass was long, the lines barely visible and the pitch being tight and short did not suit Burn at all. The game did not start until 7pm and by the time the full time whistle was heard, darkness was almost upon us! The first half was poor from both teams and with very little chances for both teams.The second half was not much better with Sunnyside canceling out anything burn had to offer. Burn were pressing trying to play a short passing game which was not to be in the lengthy grass. The breakthrough came 15mins from full time with a screamer of a shot from center back Andy McGown which Grady in the Sunnyside goal did well to stop with a parry,but the rebound was met by the in rushing Johnny Reynolds who blasted the ball into the Sunnyside net from 20 yd's. A tough and frustrating game, but the points went back to Bannockburn.

Pre-Season Friendly Fixture: Sat 16th  August 2008
Bannockburn Amateur 19 's   2      East Stirlingshire Colts 0                  Scorers: Neilson (2)                                                         ( Last match report posted on our web site posted by the late Jim Mullan )

East Stirlingshire are always hard to beat no matter home or away. They always field a team which is at the top or thereby very near the top of league. Although only a pre-season friendly, it makes this result very significant. Make no mistake, this was an excellent performance by Burn. They looked like they wanted to win and they could have done so by more goals. The Shire keeper had several excellent saves at his near post which frustrated Burn early on in the game. Shire also played well, it was just that Burn had the edge in all sections of the park. Very unusual in a game v the Shire that goal keeper Steven Hogg had very little to do. When the defenders won the ball, it was played to an area to stop a Shire attack, and the Burn midfielders were on the attack once again.
Burn started well and were looking very effective. They were winning the ball in defence, midfield and up front. The only thing they couldn't do was get a goal. Burn were looking the most likely to score first in the face of stiff opposition and it It took almost 40 minutes for them to get their first goal but it was a beauty well worth the wait. Andy Neilson got onto a great overhead pass from Ross Evans on the left of midfield and strongly drove the ball into the net. Andy continues to get better with each game and there is more still to come.
A one goal lead at half time was a good result against this team but Burn made it even better shortly after the re-start when Andy Neilson got another. The remainder of the second half was very competitive but Burn more than held their own to run out comfortable winners.
From the goalkeeper through the whole team, Burn were a success. A great performance. Not one man of the match but a whole team performance. The level of performance will need to be just as good in the coming league fixtures.

Pre-Season Friendly Fixture: Sat 9th  August 2008
Bannockburn Amateur 19 's   2      Riverside Amateurs (Stirling and District AFA)   2           Scorers: McAuley, Neilson.

Burn put up an excellent display in their first full friendly game of the new season against a good adult footballing  team who will be playing in the Stirling and District Amateur league this season. Considering that B'burn are not fully match fit yet, this was another step towards full fitness with all of the squad taking part. Keeper  Steven Hogg again turned in an excellent performance with some very brave saves and has the bruises to prove it!
The advantage of playing an adult team is that it shows up the good players more easily. The good news is that the new 19's, mainly made up of the majority of players of last years 19's and Riverside 19's, who have now folded, mostly showed up very well but a few players will have to raise their game to match the standard of the best in the team.
Striker Andy Neilson, who was signed from Stirling Albion has improved greatly since joining B'burn and there is room for more improvement. Andy put in a great display and his determination made one goal and he scored the second.
At most levels of football, two goals are normally all that is needed to win games because defences and organizations are so good. The 19's scored two goals and led for most of the game but a couple of lapses in concentration let Riverside equalize. This was understandable because players were on and off to get the match fitness levels up. Nevertheless, certain players in defence showed enough skill and determination to give real hope for a good defence. The center back pairing of Andy McGown and James Kilgannon is already showing signs of maturity. From back to front the signs look good for the new season.