Greenock HSFP Black hosted Vale of Leven at Notre Dame High School on 27 September 2025, with kick-off at 9:00am in a fiercely contested cup tie. The match lasted 80 minutes plus added time, concluding with a 4-2 triumph for Greenock HSFP Black in front of referee Kenny Diver.
Deploying a 4-3-3 formation, Greenock HSFP Black lined up with Alex Tweddle in goal. The defensive line featured Ben O'Brien at right back, Lyle Buchan and Jay Kane as central defenders, and Robert Miller on the left. The midfield trio consisted of Murewa Seun-Oremade on the right, Ashton Kerr centrally, and Kieran Boyd on the left. Up front, the attacking trio was composed of Dylan McAllister on the right wing, Kaiden McKinnon as the central striker, and Zack Weston on the left wing. The substitutes available were Taylor Carson, Aaron Smith, Sam Lyons, and Ethan Lynch.
From the outset, Greenock HSFP Black took control, with Weston opening the scoring in the third minute. McKinnon provided a short pass inside the box, allowing Weston to finish confidently with his right foot. The early goal set the tone for the home side’s attacking intent.
Just seven minutes later, an unfortunate injury forced an early change as Taylor Carson replaced Lyle Buchan in central defence, ensuring the backline remained solid. Despite this disruption, Greenock HSFP Black maintained their rhythm and doubled their lead in the 23rd minute. McKinnon capitalised on a defensive error by Vale of Leven, slotting the ball home with his right foot.
The home side’s dominance continued with a third goal arriving three minutes later. Boyd’s short pass from outside the box found McKinnon, who executed a delicate lob over the goalkeeper, extending the lead to 3-0. This goal showcased McKinnon’s composure and technical ability.
Greenock HSFP Black were relentless and added a fourth goal in the 32nd minute. Ashton Kerr delivered a precise long pass into the box, where Weston was on hand to finish once again. This clinical strike reaffirmed the home team’s superiority in the first half, which ended 4-0.
The second half saw Vale of Leven respond with two goals of their own. A penalty awarded in the 50th minute was converted with a right-footed finish, giving the visitors a glimmer of hope. Five minutes later, Vale of Leven scored again from inside the box with a left-footed effort, reducing the deficit to 4-2 and injecting some tension into the match.
Greenock HSFP Black made tactical substitutions at the hour mark, bringing on Aaron Smith for Dylan McAllister and Sam Lyons for Murewa Seun-Oremade, aiming to refresh their attacking and midfield options. Later, Ethan Lynch replaced the prolific McKinnon in the 70th minute, allowing the striker to rest after his impressive contribution.
Despite Vale of Leven’s efforts to claw back further, Greenock HSFP Black held firm to secure a 4-2 victory. The home side’s early clinical finishing and solid defensive adjustments ensured they progressed in the cup competition with a well-earned win.
