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Saturday 11th July 2026

Kick Off 14.00 On Time!

Port Glasgow Juniors 3 Neilston 3, attendance 82

2’ 1-0

4’ 2-0

23’ 3-0

25’ 3-1

29’ 3-2

77’ 3-3

@ Parklea Community Sports Facility, 3G Stadium Pitch

off Greenock Road (A8)

Parkhill

Port Glasgow

PA14 6TR

Admission by Donation

No Programme.

Game two of the day saw more caged football, at the Parklea home of Port Glasgow Juniors, or ‘The Undertakers’ as they are nicknamed, thought to originate from them having played in an all black kit when they were first formed. It took forty two minutes to drive back north, before heading west along the A8, with the ground on the right just before reaching Port Glasgow, sandwiched between the railway line and the River Clyde. Although it’s a caged pitch, it is far better than you’d expect. There’s spectator access on three sides, with just the goal at the western end being out of bounds. There’s even two separate sections of covered terrace, bookending the changing room building, with the dugouts in the centre of this side. The tea bar operated from here too, doing hot and cold food/drinks, although the menu was smaller than for a normal league game.

The match was between two West of Scotland League teams, with Division 2 hosting Division 1. Port Glasgow got off to a flyer, scoring twice in the opening four minutes, firstly poking in from close range after a cross was played back into the box having been partially cleared, before cutting in from the left and beating the ‘keeper low at the near post. Midway through the half it was 3-0, playing a free kick across the box which was smashed into the bottom corner. Two minutes later Neilston got one back, when a ball into the box was finished with a shot on the turn into the far corner. Minutes later they got another one, following up on an angled shot that the ‘keeper saved, but couldn’t direct the ball away from the danger area. Port Glasgow then had a goal ruled out for offside, with the game remaining 3-2 at the interval. The hosts hit the crossbar early in the second half, with far fewer chances created than in the first half, but Neilston grabbed a deserved equaliser with thirteen minutes left, breaking quickly down the left and despite the cross being over hit, it was kept in play and squared across the box for a side footed finish from twelve yards.

Friendly

Saturday 11th July 2026

Kick Off 11.00 Actual 11.03

Kilwinning Rangers 5 Lugar Boswell Thistle 0, attendance 91

20’ 1-0

22’ 2-0

28’ 3-0

44’ 4-0

81’ 5-0

@ Ian Cashmore Memorial Park

Kilwinning Community Sports Club

Pennyburn Road

Kilwinning

KA13 6LF

£5 Admission

No Programme.

I’d only visited Kilwinning Rangers for a game here at Kilwinning Community Sports Club in March last year, but with their Buffs Park pitch currently having work done, this was played on the adjacent Ian Cashmore Memorial Park, home to West of Scotland Division 3 club Eglinton. It’s a one sided caged pitch as far as spectators go and has a pair of dugouts on the far side. Food and drink were available from ‘The Dug Oot’ which is behind the near goal end, with toilets available at the changing room building at the top of the complex, next to the car park.

The match was Lowland League West versus West of Scotland League Division 3 and not surprisingly went the way of the far higher level team. A header from a corner on the right saw Kilwinning go ahead after twenty minutes and they doubled their lead two minutes later, following in after an initial shot was spilled by the ‘keeper. The third goal arrived six minutes later, when a one-two was finished with a shot that went in off the far post. A minute before halftime they made it 4-0, sending a diagonal cross from the right back over the ‘keeper with a looping header into the far corner. Although Kilwinning hit the crossbar with a header early in the second half, they didn’t get their fifth goal until nine minutes from the end, with an angled shot that went right under the ‘keeper.

With the game finished by 12.41 there was ample time to head off for a second game.