IT was yet another positive weekend within the Greenock Juniors youth pathway - even though one side saw a long-standing record fall.
All four pathway teams were involved in important cup matches last weekend, with both the development team and the under 15s in action on Friday evening and the under 12s and under 16s up on Saturday.
Having dipped a little in performance levels the previous week against Johnstone Burgh the Development team returned to form with an impressive 5-1 win over Petershill FC in the Lowland Challenge Cup.
The feeling heading into this one was that it would be a very tight match; however the boys rose to the occasion and played some excellent football in difficult conditions.
Michael McCauley's brace, coupled with Jay Beckley, Craig Darroch and Chris Lepick strikes, did the business against Peasy, whilst the player of the match was Kian O’Brien.
The squad are back in league action on Friday when they host Vale of Leven at the Battery Park at 8pm.
Earlier in the season 'Nock recorded a 7-3 win against the Alexandria-based side, so a repeat would be very acceptable.
All good things must come to an end, and so it proved for the Nock under 17s, whose long run of victories was ended in the league cup by first division Thorn Athletic, who ran out 4-3 winners.
Greenock felt they were unlucky not to get more out of the game, however in general play they more than matched a team who sit second top of division one, a division above Nock.
On target for the Nock were Harvey Woods, Liam Connelly and Jamie Harrison. Man of the match was Aiden Blair.
The boys will look to resume their winning form on Saturday with a home match against St Cadoc's YC Rovers. Kick off is 1pm at Notre Dame.
The under 16s surpassed themselves with a thumping 14-1 win against St Andrews in the divisional league cup, as seven players managed to get on the score sheet.
Sam Keyes netted four times while Jay Beckley once again picked up a match ball.
Ewan Docherty and Liam Laughlin's braces accompanied by Ben McSween, Cameron Pickett and Mikel Greene strikes; players of the match were Jay Beckley and Sam Keyes.
This Saturday, the team face second placed Giffnock in the league. The East Renfrewshire side are two points ahead of Greenock having played four more games.
It is, of course great to see the team racking up goals match after match, however they really could do with a serious test and Giffnock should provide that.
The Under 15s continued their improved form with a resounding 7-0 victory over Ardeer, again in the league cup. In very blustery conditions, coupled with frequent heavy outbursts of rain, the boys put a display of controlled, intelligent football to progress to the next round of the competition.
Despite dominating the game from start to finish they were only one up at half time, though the Nock boys were more clinical in the second half, adding six with no reply.
There were two hat-trick heroes, Zak Paul and Chris Hyndman, with Kai O’Donnell the other scorer and Leslie Owens chosen as player of the match.
The boys are away to third placed Dumbarton this coming Saturday.
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