Despite going up against a team they had not faced this season, it was the home side that dominated the majority of the game putting 4 past a Dalbeattie side fighting relegation.

A couple of changes the starting eleven that beat Gretna 2008 a few weeks back; Jamie McCormack replaced David Verlaque and Tom Orr starts replacing injured Cammy Ballantyne. Meanwhile, two Under-20s players started on the bench in Connor Smith and goalkeeper Liam Running who replaced Stephen Barr who recently went out on loan to Pollok.

BSC Glasgow’s first chance came immediately in the opening minute when Declan Hughes put a good cross into the box and the head of Ross Smith but his strike was cleared off the line by Star’s defence.

The few fans that braved the weather didn’t have to wait long for the first goal. Sixteen minutes in, Jamie Mills flew up the left wing and floated a great ball for Orr who smashed it home in the top right corner.

Despite the final score line, there really wasn’t much to write home about during the ninety minutes. Unfortunately Star’s Lewis Sloan suffered an injury just before the half hour mark and Dalbeattie were forced to make the early substitution.

The early opener didn’t stop our boys in yellow continuing to attack and capitalise on defensive errors. A brilliant run by Jamie McCormack and broke through the right side of the box led to a high cross somehow finding the diving header of Star defender, Hugh Cameron who turned the ball into his own net.

It only took three minutes for BSC to turn the double into three when a tap-in from Martin Grehan found the back of the net after a stramash in the box following another cross from Mills and an attempted strike by Orr.

HALF TIME | BSC GLASGOW 3 – 0 DALBEATTIE STAR

The three goal deficit didn’t stop Star searching trying to spark a comeback as the second half commenced. After a few attempts to break into the box, the ball fell for Calvin Cowie who put home a fantastic strike into the bottom left to pull one back.

Ross Lindsay bounced onto the pitch for Declan Hughes just before BSC found their fourth and Orr found his second. Martin Grehan went on a terrific run dribbling past three defenders and into the box; however his shot could only be palmed away by Vinnie Parker. Not to worry though, as that man Tom Orr was there to slice the rebound into the bottom corner.

The rest of the second half seemingly came and went; McCormack found himself in the referee’s book adding to his tally for the season, as did Star’s Ross Thomson for introducing Euan O’Reilly’s face to his forearm. Meanwhile, Davie Winters and Joe Irvine got a run out, replacing Tom Orr and The Ginger Bear, Robbie McNab.

FULL TIME | BSC GLASGOW 4 – 1 DALBEATTIE STAR

MAN OF THE MATCH | THOMAS ORR

Photos in this report were by Thomas Brown.

There were a few changes to the squad that only managed a draw over Edinburgh Uni last weekend; David Verlaque came back to the starting eleven replacing Jamie McCormack, Robbie McNab returned after suspension, meanwhile St Johnstone loanee Euan O’Reilly made his debut in yellow. Tom Orr and Robbie Duncan started the match on the bench.

In the opening minutes, Euan O’Reilly showed he was going to be a quality addition to the BSC squad when he rose unopposed in the Gretna box, seeing his header sail just over the bar. The attempts continued however when O’Reilly put a curving cross into Carlo Pignatiello whose powerful strike was palmed away by Gretna’s Jim Atkinson.

The first goal came in the thirteenth minute when Jamie Mills ripped the defence apart up the left side to square the ball to O’Reilly who finished low past Atkinson. O’Reilly almost grabbed a second soon after, thanks to a sweet little lay off by Declan Hughes, but his strike ricocheted off the post.

A second goal seemed inevitable in the first half, but an O’Reilly volley went inches over the bar and a fantastic run by Carlo Pignatiello into Martin Grehan couldn’t be converted as Gretna’s Atkinson proved a determined foe in the Gretna goal.

As the first half came to a close, Gretna’s frustration began to seep through as Daniel Wadge’s frustration at being regularly beaten in the air began to seep through. However, it was Cammy Ballantyne that was on the end of the tackle that saw the Gretna centre back go into the book just before the break.

HALF TIME | BSC GLASGOW 1 – 0 GRETNA 2008

The second half kicked off and in the opening ten minutes it looked as though BSC were playing to defend their 1-0 lead, especially as the challenges certainly weren’t few and far between. Jake Smith went into the book for a rough tackle on O’Reilly, as did Dean Watson. BSC were lucky to avoid the book themselves on a couple of occasions.

Pignatiello kept his great performance going when he managed to confuse the Gretna back line and almost capitalise by slipping through but a quick recovery from the defence to squeeze him out saw his shot fire just wide of the post.

Only a minute later and Jamie Mills was there to make another inch-perfect cross to the feet of Grehan who turned and hit a beautiful strike from just inside the box to find the back of the net. BSC certainly made the post of a few minutes where Gretna looked down and out. Tom Orr came off for goal scorer Martin Grehan and thirty seconds later was involved in the third goal. Yet another gorgeous cross from Jamie Mills found the head of Orr but the strike was palmed away by Atkinson only for Cammy Ballantyne to react quickly and knock in the rebound.

Verlaque came off for debutant St Johnstone loanee Ben Quigley before Wadge saw red for Gretna, picking up a second yellow for a rough challenge on Euan O’Reilly,

O’Reilly’s fantastic debut performance came to an end on the 80th minute when Davie Winters came on hoping to get on the score sheet. That seemed inevitable when a great through ball confused the defence and allowed the striker to burst clean through on goal with just the keeper to beat. Winters was unable to hit the target.

FULL TIME | BSC GLASGOW 3 – 0 GRETNA 2008

MAN OF THE MATCH | JAMIE MILLS

Despite not being at home for a home match, BSC Glasgow dominated but could only manage a 1-0 victory despite a penalty and red card apiece.

There were a few changes to the team which started the draw with Edusport Academy last week; trialist Jamie McCormack made his first start for the club replacing David Verlaque, Robbie McNab and Robbie Duncan returned to the starting eleven. Cammy Ballantyne started, while Declan Hughes was out this week and Shaun Struthers was on the bench.

The first half kicked off at Broadwood in freezing, windy conditions and BSC looked to be the stronger side. An early attempt at a lob from Cammy Ballantyne went wide as well as a few long shots from Gala, however the wind played a little bit of a factor in the fact that each sailed metres over the crossbar.

Robbie Duncan showed his footwork skill, slicing apart Gala’s defence with a perfect through ball to Tom Orr but the striker just couldn’t catch it. Another great ball in the box from Duncan found Martin Grehan but his header went just over.

Jamie Mills found himself a yellow card after a tangle with Gala’s Craig O’Reilly just before the break, although we think this might have been a case of mistaken identity.

HALF TIME | BSC GLASGOW 0 – 0 GALA FAIRYDEAN ROVERS

Another chance came for Tom Orr just after the restart when he made space for himself in the box and committed to the shot only for Patrick Martin to palm it away.

Martin Grehan came off for David Winters just before Robbie McNab went caught the referee’s attention and received a yellow card for a collision with Alex Cunningham. I think size played a factor but the ref clearly didn’t agree.

On the 63rd minute, BSC at Broadwood finally paid off when a fantastic low ball into the box found that man Tom Orr whose strike went just under Patrick Martin and found the back of the net.

Only four minutes later and Gala went for a counter attack; however it was BSC who nearly caused their own demise. A ball into the box from Gala smashed off Jamie McCormack then hit Ross McMillan’s head and looked to be a certain own goal but Ryan Marshall made an incredible diving save to tip the ball out for a corner.

With just over ten minutes to go, frustration began to set in for both teams. BSC searched for another goal to put the game to bed and a lovely wee back heel from Winters found substitute Shaun Struthers who was fouled in the box by Reece Donaldson. The ref not only deemed a penalty but gave a second yellow to Donaldson bringing Gala down to ten men. Struthers got himself a booking due to pushing Donaldson in the aftermath.

Tom Orr stepped up for the penalty and, given that he hadn’t missed one this season, seemed certain to score, however, the ball smashed off the post and back out for Gala to clear.

The Fairydean searched for a successful counter attack as the last five minutes closed up. Their big chance came when McCormack handballed it in the box to give Gala a penalty and a lifeline. McCormack received a booking for the hand and McNab got himself a second yellow due to something he said in the aftermath, marking BSC’s first red card of the season.

Luckily for us, the drama may have affected Gala because Darren Smith’s penalty fired well wide and kept the three points on BSC’s side.

FULL TIME | BSC GLASGOW 1 – 0 GALA FAIRYDEAN ROVERS

MAN OF THE MATCH | CARLO PIGNATIELLO

Vice-captain Ross Smith hit a fantastic strike in injury time to get a consolation point in an otherwise poor game.

There were a few changes to the squad that beat Spartans three weeks ago – Shaun Struthers was in the starting eleven while fellow St Johnstone loanee Ben Quigley was on the bench joined by trialist Jamie McCormack.

Only seconds after the whistle was blew, Tom Orr fired straight into the box determined to grab an early goal only to be brought down. The man in charge deemed it fair play and, unfortunately for BSC, waved play on.

All of a sudden, Edusport burst forward and capitalised on a BSC defence that didn’t expect it – Andy Dowie slipped past and managed a low ball to Ross McNeil, on-loan from East Kilbride, who simply tapped in to open the scoring only six minutes in.

Orr continued to fight for BSC’s first goal hitting the post on the 21st minute. Shaun Struthers attempted to a low strike seconds later but the ball whistled by the right post. The equaliser finally came when Declan Hughes put forward a fantastic ball that landed at the feet of Martin Grehan whose first shot was initially saved but he was there to put in the rebound.

There was almost an immediate second for BSC when Struthers attempted another low strike that was only inches off target.  

HALF TIME | EDUSPORT ACADEMY 1 – 1 BSC GLASGOW

Edusport’s frustration was evident minutes after the restart when Theo Couve went in the referee’s book due to a rough challenge on Declan Hughes. The resultant free kick went just over the bar.

Despite BSC looking the stronger team, they conceded another just before the hour mark. A terrific cross into the box found the head of Jean Guy Lucas who in turn found the back of the net.

David Winters and Jamie McCormack came on the pitch for David Verlaque and Shaun Struthers in hopes to fight an unexpected upset.

With fifteen minutes to go, Edusport went for a third only for the flag to go up. The resultant profane scream from Ross McNeil was deemed unacceptable by the referee who showed him a red card. The Edusport striker could probably have counted himself a little unlucky to see red.

In the final ten minutes, Ross Lindsay replaced Jamie Mills, joining the team in throwing everything forward to salvage the game. The all-attack mode didn’t work in BSC’s favour for a good portion of the final minutes when Edusport’s Hugo Catrine got the ball to Jean Guy Lucas on the counter attack whose strike smashed off the crossbar.

We never lost hope though as finally, after a few desperate crosses into the box, the ball fell to Ross Smith who slotted in a perfect strike to keep BSC Glasgow’s undefeated streak alive.

FULL TIME | EDUSPORT ACADEMY 2 – 2 BSC GLASGOW

MAN OF THE MATCH | MARTIN GREHAN