billko Posted April 12, 2015 Report Share Posted April 12, 2015 (edited) Early start this morning for the young Jags as the bus left Firhill at 7.30 am for Newcastle. The venue was the fantastic Newcastle Youth Academy which boasts around 10 perfect grass pitches, an astro pitch and it's a facility which is used solely by Newcastle's youth teams. In the distance you could just see the Newcastle first team preparing for the Liverpool game on Monday night at their own state of the art training complex which looked very impressive from what we could see of it. Thistle had travelled to Tyneside with a squad made up of 9 boys that are of U16's age group that all play in our U17's team, and 10 boys from our U15's squad Everything was perfect for football apart from the weather which was horrendous with freezing driving rain that was nothing like the lovely sunny weather we have been getting over the last week or so, but it wasn't going to spoil a great day. The game started with 9 of Thistle's outfield players being U16's , an U15's centre back and Thistle's 15's keeper between the sticks and these boys were made to work really hard from the off as Newcastle went for it from the start. The Geordie's certainly looked the part playing at a high tempo and were looking strong in all departments of the pitch which was to be expected. They took the lead 15 mins or so in as Thistle were still trying to get their game going. To the young Jags credit they did get into it and started to cause problems for the Newcastle defence with some good peroids of play. The game was pretty physical at times but never boiled over and both sides were contributing to an entertaining match. Just before HT Thistle equalised and it was a great strike from outside the box from our hard working CF who was up against 2 quality centre backs and his shot gave the keeper no chance, HT 1-1 Second half starts with Thistle making alot of changes with the side now fielding 10 U15;s and just the 1 U16.player. This was going to be a huge test for these players against this strong Newcastle side. The young Jags were on the backfoot straight from kick off as they struggled to cope with the fast pace of the game and the worsening weather conditions didn't help matters. They were still trying to get into the game when Newcastle scored their second punishing the young Jags for losing possession just outside their penalty area and it was now going to be an even sterner test the young Jags were now facing. To their credit they battled hard and started to get their passing game going but they were to lose another goal after an unfortunate slip from one of our midfielders which allowed the Newcastle striker a clear run at goal and he finsihed well. At this point you wondered if Thistlle would collapse feeling sorry for themselves due to the goals they had conceded against a team now full of confidence. The heads didn't go down though and they kept at it and as the half went on it was Thistle who were starting to play some really good football and worrying this Newcastle defence. Thistle missed a great chance of getting a goal back and you thought that was it but Thistle's excellent centre back had other ideas who went on one of his long dribbling runs that took him clear of the Newcastle strikers then past some midfielders and then unleashed an unstoppable shot from 25yards which went top corner and was a fantastic goal. It gave the young Jags a huge lift and was deserved for how they were playing. The young Jags now had the equaliser in their sights but time was against them and it was a frantic end to the match with Thistle missing one last good chance which turned out to be the last piece of action of the game and unfortunately the boys didn't get the draw they deserved. FT Newcastle 3 Thistle Weir 2 The boys heads were down but it was a great effort from this mixed U15'/16's age group against a full team of U16's and it will be a great learning experience for our boys that shows they can compete with players of this level. It was a great day that even the terrible weather couldn't ruin and all the young Jags should be proud of the performances and effort they all put in today. Well done to all the young Jags today. Edited April 12, 2015 by billko 17 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChewinGumMacaroonBaaaz Posted April 12, 2015 Report Share Posted April 12, 2015 H'way the Jags. Ye cannae beat a canny bag o' Tudor? Aye we can... We'll show them next time. Well done boys. Representing the Jags is never a loss. All part of the learning process. Thanks for the write up Bilko 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Willjag Posted April 12, 2015 Members Report Share Posted April 12, 2015 Thanks for that Bilko. All sounds very encouraging for the lads. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandbank boy Posted April 12, 2015 Report Share Posted April 12, 2015 Thanks Bilko much appreciated 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulo Posted April 13, 2015 Report Share Posted April 13, 2015 Great write up Bilko, thanks for that. Always enjoy reading about how the youngsters are getting on. This would be great experience for them at such a young age too. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thisal Posted April 13, 2015 Report Share Posted April 13, 2015 Great write up. Just one thing when I saw the title I thought we were playing a Rangers XI Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lady-isobel-barnett Posted April 13, 2015 Report Share Posted April 13, 2015 Thanks, billko, very much appreciated . Undoubtedly a great experience for the youngsters. btw The training facilities at Newcastle sound fantastic. Wouldn't it be great if Mike Ashley was to emulate that and put his cash into a club in Scotland? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billko Posted April 13, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 13, 2015 Thanks, billko, very much appreciated . Undoubtedly a great experience for the youngsters. btw The training facilities at Newcastle sound fantastic. Wouldn't it be great if Mike Ashley was to emulate that and put his cash into a club in Scotland? Would be great if Mike Ashley could provide the Jags with something similar LIB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billko Posted April 13, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 13, 2015 Great write up. Just one thing when I saw the title I thought we were playing a Rangers XI Yes it felt that way when i seen all the Sports Direct advertising around the pitch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rid Skwerr Posted April 13, 2015 Report Share Posted April 13, 2015 (edited) Would be great if Mike Ashley could provide the Jags with something similar LIB no thanks - way too "dodgy". Or at least that is how a parliamentary committee categorised him recently, I believe. Edited April 13, 2015 by Rid Skwerr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billko Posted April 13, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 13, 2015 no thanks - way too "dodgy". Or at least that is how a parliamentary committee categorised him recently, I believe. They could have a point there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yoda-jag Posted April 13, 2015 Report Share Posted April 13, 2015 excellent detailed report jaggyko. while down there did you manage to have a pint of newkiebroon and a chat with your mate fat mike too? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robphil Posted April 14, 2015 Report Share Posted April 14, 2015 many thanks bilko; a better read than most of what passes for 'journalism' in the contemporary press. and well done to all the young jags who obviously did the club proud 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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