Football: Port Glasgow boss hails team after Purdue wonder goal sees off West Park
PORT GLASGOW boss Tam Jamieson was delighted after watching his side see out a deserved 1-0 victory at home to West Park United on Saturday.
Jack Purdue's stunning strike midway through the second half earned maxiumum points for the hosts as the Undertakers made it six league wins on the spin to stay within four points of the top of the Fourth Division.
It was the Parklea side's third win of the campaign against a West Park side who went into the clash off a seven-match unbeaten league run - and Jamieson admitted afterwards that the Huntershill men provided a much tougher test than in the two sides' meetings earlier in the season.
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Port launched wave after wave of attack during the first half and had a goal controversially chopped off for offside as the two sides went in level at the break.
But Port kept their heads up and got their reward on 65 minutes through a sensational solo goal from Purdue.
The move showed promise from the get-go as Shaun Rodgers received the ball inside his own half and beat four players as he cut inside.
A cross-field ball picked out Purdue 25 yards from goal, but he still had plenty to do - and he danced past five players before cutting inside and firing a superb shot into the bottom right hand corner.
Port Glasgow's players were all smiles after Saturday's 1-0 win at home to West Park United. (Image: alex craig) The final quarter after Purdue’s breakthrough was an end-to-end affair, but Port held on to claim a valuable three points.
“I’m delighted with three points as it was a difficult game,” said Jamieson.
“West Park came here to play football and are an improved team from our last encounters.
“I felt we were trying to rush things in the first half. I told the guys to settle down, and it worked for us.
"And yet again Jack Purdue provides an unbelievable goal to win the match, and he has that in his locker.
“The win lets us focus on next week’s match away to Rossvale.”
Elsewhere on Saturday, leaders Knightswood maintained their four-point advantage over Jamieson's men at the top of the standings after easing to a 5-1 win away to Campbeltown Pupils.
But third-placed Easterhouse lost ground in the promotion race after going down 3-2 away to East Kilbride Thistle, meaning there are now nine points between Port Glasgow and the Stepford side.
Port Glasgow are sponsored by Sponsors Dragon Soup, Coop Funeralcare, The Caledonian Bar, Autotec, Dunns MOT Centre, Clydeview Motors & Dare2Create.
