Another busy month for the youth sides and reserves. Following the Christmas break January is always a slow starter with fixtures not commencing until the second week in January.
First of all the youth section would like to extend massive congratulations and share our pride to Finlay Kennedy who has been a product of the youth academy for several years and we are pleased to see him grow as a player and a person, also to Niall Rogerson who we picked up last season following his departure from Rangers on earning contracts with the first team. Both young promising prospects and have joined Lewis Currie, Jay Burns, Charlie Cowie, Lewis Gibson, Ben Johnstone, Ross Irving, Josh Todd and Gavin Reilly as academy produced players with the first team and we look forward to watching their progress.
The under 16's continued their fine form with emphatic wins against, Falkirk, and Stirling Albion, drawing with Airdrie and suffering only one defeat in a friendly against Carlisle United. The boys have well and truly found their feet at this level and contiue to improve, with all players being too old for the u16's next season they will fight for their place in the u18 side for the coming season. Pleasing that both Kylan Hunter and Rhilay Walls featured as part of the u18 squad in the Scottish Youth Cup. As well as Lewis Johnstone stepping up and playing with the u18's last week at Stirling Albion.
The Under 18's had a mixed month, with a lot of fixtures in successive days. Holding both Airdrie and Falkirk to draws, losing to Dundee United in the Quater final of the Scottish Youth Cup, and a very depleated squad lost to Stirling Albion less than 48 hours later. A tough month with injuries and school commitments meaning the team has been very stretched, yet some pleasing performances indivdually, over the month. The u18's show promise with most of the squad playing a year above themselves. With our 2006 aged players all going back out on loan.
The reserves have also played a couple of fixtures this month with, victory in the Challenge Cup over Creetown with a 5-2 victory. Suffered league defeat in the Reserve league vs Ayr United in a competitive game losing 3-2 in a 5 goal thriller. Pleasing to see Callum Hill Score for the reserves after coming off the bench, this reward justified due to positive performances with the u18's. Unfortunately other friendlies that had been organised fell victim to the weather at the begining of the month.
Loans Watch-
We are pleased to update our reserve team movements, with Charlie Watson going back out on loan to Dalbeattie Star who are persuing the league title with Charlie being a mainstay in the central of the Midfield, he has also been joined by young Cammy Bryson from the u18's squad as we look to further enhance his experience at senior level.
Lewis Downie has extended his loan with Abbey Vale, the attacking player has been a regular since going out to the New Abbey side and is benefitting from regular adult football.
Peter Mendy has had an injury hit season, however we are now hopeful this is behind him and is away to Lochar Thistle to hopefully have a positive impact on a team who are on a great run of form, last year Finlay Kennedy and Andrew Oram played key roles within the Lochar team and we hope Peter can too.
Shay Meagher is back out to Creetown, Shay being an u18 player is getting his first real taste for adult football and has grown into a very good Creetown side, he is now getting more minutes which will benefit him as well as playng with both the u18s and reserves.
Unfortunately Andrew Oram suffered a long term injury and has been unable to play over the past couple of months, however we are hopeful he will be back very soon following an operation to play a key part in the remainder of the season.
Harry McLinden has also just agreed to extend his loan at Upper Annandale as he contiues to progress.
Euan Ross made his debut for the club, the young Midfielder was brought on in the 2-0 away victory against Cove. This again a great achievement and he should be very proud.