In the 5^th round of the Scottish Cup, Braidhurst faced a daunting journey to Monifieth to play for a place in the quarter finals.   Monifieth were a very physical side with lots of tall players.   Braidhurst started very well, knocking the ball down but the pitch was unsuitable for passing the ball around.   Braidhurst spent most of the first 10 minutes in Monifieth’s half with several chances on goal but their keeper saved them.   Monifieth looked dangerous when they had the chance to counter.   On a counter attack they won a corner and scored a header after a well worked corner.   Braidhurst did not let their heads go down and kept piling on the pressure.   On the 20^th minute after good work by Jack Keary and Lewis Guy on the left hand side, Jack Simpson crossed the ball for Robbie Falconer to finish.   Braidhurst continued to press and keep on the pressure, but while Monifieth looked dangerous on the counter, some solid defending kept them at bay.

In the second half Braidhurst started well and were passing the ball round.   Jack Simpson burst through the defence but was tackled illegally in the box.   He scored the resulting penalty.   After this, Monifieth began to press and push up but spaces started to appear in midfield.  After some great work down the left hand side the ball was crossed in to the box.   Greg Miller collected the ball, turned and smashed it into the bottom corner to make it 3-1.   At this point Braidhurst looked very much in control and with the midfield partnership of Lewis Gamble and Reece Geddes functioning extremely well it was only a matter of time until more goals came.   On the 55^th minute Robbie Falconer made a great run down the right beating a couple of players and then smashed the ball over the keeper and into the net from outside the box.   The final goal came in the 62^nd minute at a corner.   Braidhurst had never looked like scoring from a corner but this one was different.   As the ball came in, Marc Smith jumped the highest to head the ball past the goal keeper to make it 5-1.   Well done to all the boys who played.   They played well in tough conditions.

Goal scorer(s)

Jack Simpson

Greg Miller

Marc Smith

Robbie Falconer (2)

Men of the match (Nominated by Mr Inch)

Tom Leighton

Reece Geddes

Parents of pupils currently in second year have been invited to meet with teaching staff on Tuesday 25^th February to discuss progress. The parents will also have the opportunity to meet with senior staff to outline the curriculum on offer in third year and procedures for subject selection.

Seven young players involved in the Scottish FA Performance groups based in Braidhurst High have been selected for the Scottish FA under 14’s trials. All the players are with professional clubs and joined the school through selection trials conducted by Scottish FA staff. The coach at the school is Gordon Craig who is absolutely delighted at the success shown by this group in being selected. Tyler Tobin is a defender and plays with Hamilton FC; Tom Leighton is a defender who plays with Motherwell FC; Aaron Black, Lewis Gamble and Jason McCrorie are all midfielders who play with Motherwell FC. Forwards included are Greg Miller of Motherwell FC and Kieran McGrath of Hibernian. These players receive around one and a half hours of individual coaching each day from a team of qualified coaches led by Gordon Craig. Mr Hannan said, “Everyone at the school is delighted at the success shown by this group of talented young players. We are currently working on the selection process for August with Gordon and the clubs”.

A planning meeting was recently held in the school to prepare for the next intake of pupils to the School of Football initiative. The scheme has been successfully running in Braidhurst High over the past six years and the meeting took place to plan for the next three year period. Government money from the Cashback Scheme allows twenty pupils each year to receive a football session each day delivered by a fully qualified SFA coach. The meeting was attended by Andy Gilchrist and Jimmy Bone from the SFA, Scott Leitch head of the Motherwell FC Youth Academy with the school represented by David Gardiner, Principal Teacher of Physical Education and the Rector Mr Derrick Hannan. Mr Hannan commented, “This scheme has been a fantastic success and we can confidently look forward to the selection process for the next intake. The coach is Paul Burns, Head of Children for Motherwell FC. He has been doing a first class job working in the school. If anyone wishes further information then they can contact me at the school”.

The first year group of pupils who joined the school last August through the Scottish FA Performance School of Football initiative, recently spent a day visiting English Premiership club Newcastle United. The coach for the group Gordon Craig, who has been in the game for over 20 years, made the connection through a friendship built up with former Scottish Internationalist Willie Donachie. The group travelled down to Newcastle by coach having set off early from the school and were met by former England Internationalist Peter Beardsley. He took the squad of players and coaches on a tour of the Newcastle United stadium prior to playing a game against a Newcastle United Youth Academy squad in their impressive indoor complex. The focus on the day was to see first-hand how a top Premiership club operates. The game itself resulted in the club extending an ongoing invitation to Braidhurst for future groups to have similar visits.

The coach Gordon Craig said, “This was a great learning curve for our young players not only to play against top opposition but to experience travelling as a squad and socialising away from the school environment. They were a real credit in the way they conducted themselves representing their school, club and the Scottish FA. It was a long day for the youngsters but these opportunities only come up occasionally and they grabbed the chance with both hands. Peter Beardsley commented on how impressed he was with the pupils’ confidence, charter and ability”.

The Rector Derrick Hannan said, “This was a really worthwhile day and excellent addition to our programme. Their discipline was a great credit to the excellent work done as part of the programme as well as that of their clubs. The combination of daily coaching at school and the work at club level is having a real impact”.

Braidhurst 5 Largs Academy 1

Braidhurst under 15s moved into the last 8 of the Scottish Shield after a fine display against a well organised Largs team.

The game started off with both teams sizing each other up, which saw the majority of the play taking place in midfield. The home team finally broke the dead lock after some fine play by Jake Hastie which led to him darting into the Largs’ penalty box only for him to be brought down. The same player picked himself up and calmly slotted home the awarded spot kick.

Braidhurst were missing two of their regulars in defence due to injuries but their replacements, Dillon McCreath at centre half and Darren Wilson at right back slotted in well keeping the Largs strike force at bay.

The Scottish Shield holders soon doubled their lead when Ryan Watt played a high ball over the defence which the goal keeper fumbled and dropped right at the feet of Watt who had followed in behind the ball giving him an easy finish.

Largs Academy started to come more into the game and were causing problems for Braidhurst in the middle of the park. To try and counter this the home team switched formation to the classic 4-4-2 with Ryan Watt and the lethal Dylan Falconer leading the line. As Braidhurst were settling into the new structure Largs managed to find the breakthrough they were looking for and just on the stroke of half-time they made it 2-1.

The second half saw Braidhurst starting to look surer of themselves and soon settled into their trade mark passing moves, one of which saw a ball knocked through to Falconer. Despite the Largs’ defender having a three metre start on him, Falconer’s amazing pace soon saw him pass the defender before he cracked the ball low and hard into the keeper’s right hand corner restoring the home side’s two goal advantage.

From this point on Braidhurst were never troubled and Falconer soon doubled his own tally with an impressive diving header from a Jake Hastie corner.

With the game in its dying moments the unlucky Largs keeper spilled a long range shot which Nick Mullen raced onto and helped himself to a goal and seal Braidhurst’s place in the Quarter-finals.

Pupils from Braidhurst High School and five other NLC secondary schools recently returned from an adventurous week at the Outward Bound Centre at Loch Eil, in the Highlands. The pupils were able to take part in a number of outdoor pursuits during their week away including raft building, canoeing, rock climbing and hill walking. Each of the enjoyable activities allowed individual pupils to improve their self-confidence and communication skills. The pupils had a wonderful time and all were able to successfully achieve the Outward Bound Trust’s Adventure and Challenge Award (SCQF level 5) in addition to the John Muir Discovery Award. All pupils agreed that despite the cold, wet weather they had thoroughly enjoyed their experience.