Published: Monday, 26th May, 2008 12:00
Port march on with close cup victory
By Steven McArthur
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BLANTYRE 0 PORT GLASGOW 1
Valuable contribution: Jim Brown passed a fitness test and led the line well for Port.
A CREAKING and groaning Port Glasgow team dragged itself over the finish line to victory on Friday night, in a fiery League Cup third round tie at Blantyre.
Port, operating with a skeleton squad and facing a build up of games as a reward for league and cup success, managed to field a strong enough starting 11 to dispose of their league rivals — and have to do it all over again against Premier League Arthurlie tonight.
Forward Jim Brown passed a late fitness test, and he led the line tirelessly for the Port, making enough of a nuisance of himself to lead to the local team’s opening goal.
On 17 minutes, Gary Stewart crossed low from the left, and as the ball bobbled on the rough surface, the big Blantyre centre half could do nothing but divert the ball high into his own net.
Brown had the ball in the net five minutes later, but was judged to be offside, but it was not all plain sailing for the Port. Blantyre, with the wind at their backs, looked dangerous moving forward but were constantly reduced to firing in long-range efforts, which were either wildly inaccurate, or dealt with expertly by Port keeper Sean Graham.
Blantyre had their best chance early in the second half, as Eddie Walton slipped at the edge of his own box, but another uncultured finish saw the Blantyre striker blaze the ball over.
Port should have buried the game as the home side pressed, breaking clear from a Blantyre corner, Brown feeding Andy Monaghan on the right, who cut the ball back to Adam Taylor, but the ball got stuck under the feet of the substitute and a promising three on one opportunity was lost.
After 70 minutes, there were two quick-fire chances as a result of dubious offside decisions for Blantyre, as their striker was twice allowed a free run on goal. The first chance was squandered with a sliced effort, and the second Graham bravely challenged the player at his feet to clear the danger.
A flurry of bookings and heated sideline arguments followed, as the home side desperately tried to salvage the game, sending their own-goal-scoring centre half up for recompense late in the game, but the Port held on, their effort embodied by a late goal-saving challenge from Walton, whose self-sacrifice saw him limp on until the final whistle.
Stand-in boss David Hopkin was delighted with the win, but admitted that it may have come at a price. He said: “It was a very good performance considering the injuries we had. There were boys out there playing with little knocks, throat infections - they can’t be faulted for effort.
“I felt we did enough to win, we looked comfortable enough. Success brings more games, and Arthurlie tonight will be tough, not to mention that we only have 10 or 11 players definitely fit enough.”
The depleted Port Glasgow play Arthurlie tonight at Ravenscraig, in the quarter-final of the league cup, kick-off at 7.30pm.
Port Glasgow: Graham, A. Banks, Coyle, Walton, S. Banks, Beckley, Jack, Best (McEwan 54), Brown, Stewart (Taylor, 45), Monaghan. Subs not used: Walker.
l Port Glasgow Juniors are sponsored by Renfrewshire Electronics and the Senit Group. Kit sponsored by Swordfish Signs and Remax Gourock
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