Greenock Telegraph | Sport | Greenock undone by Vale

Thursday, 20th November, 2008

Published: Monday, 17th September, 2007 16:30

Greenock undone by Vale

By Alex Forbes

Vale of Leven 3, Greenock Juniors 1

Greenock Juniors’ short unbeaten record in the league was surrendered on Saturday when a more positive Vale side battled back from a goal down to run out worthy victors.

Defensive lapses cost Stephen Mooney’s select the three points, especially in a second half when the Millburn Park club adopted effective wingers and their visitors were caught flatfooted, often lacking the necessary stamina and pace.

Greenock kicked off with the wind behind them and appeared the more determined in the opening 10 minutes as the attack pressed forward.

Firstly, a Ross Gallagher effort sailed wide, then, two minutes later, the hard working Alan Barnes pounced on a loose clearance in the Vale box. He chipped it to John Paul Dow who saw the keeper off his line, but sadly the looping delivery dropped inches over Carr’s bar.

Vale gradually raised their game and should have scored when Hugh Ward left his marker and cracked a powerful shot goalwards, but David Scott somehow managed to tip it over.

The home side were very much on top for a short spell as Ward, Montague and Buchanan all had the goal at their mercy and failed to hit the target.

It was, however, against this run of play that Greenock shocked their opponents in the 18th minute, when Barnes, who had been the target of some dodgy tackling throughout, dispossessed defender David Grant, before calmly lobbing Carr from 18 yards.

The same player almost added a second after Dow squared the ball to him only to watch his drive smack the crossbar with the keeper well beaten.

Greenock deserved their first half lead, but, it was a more dogged Vale which reappeared for the second half and in a more aggressive frame of mind.

It took them merely seven minutes for danger man Montague to accept a perfect cross from Martin and equalise from a header, beating Scott just inside his right hand post.

The visiting rearguard looked shaky and it was no surprise when, in 65 minutes, Ward and Montague linked up for the latter to hit his second and edge his mates ahead.

Three minutes later the classy Hugh Ward, again from a wide position, drew out the keeper before tucking the ball home to complete the scoring.

Greenock refused to surrender and efforts from Gilmour and McLachlan deserved better fates but over the 90 minutes Greenock’s defence were found wanting against a hungry Vale attack.

Greenock: Scott, T. Docherty, Gallagher, Earderly, Malone (Mooney 70), Stanley (Campbell60), S.Docherty, McLachlan, Dow, Gilmour (Fleming 80), Barnes.

l Greenock Juniors are Sponsored by National Semiconductor(UK) and Allied Trades.

l Please note there are no Junior games this Saturday due to the holiday weekend.

l Greenock’s next match is on 29 September at home to Wishaw in the league.

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