A SPIRITED second-half fightback almost earned Greenock Wanderers the points in their first home league game of the season against Kirkcaldy at Fort Matilda on Saturday.

However, the eleven point lead held by the visitors at the interval proved crucial, and as it turned out was just too much of mountain to climb for the locals to overcome.

Wanderers battled bravely throughout an entertaining contest and showed that they can compete with some of the more fancied sides in the B.T National League Second Division and got just reward for their efforts by securing the losing bonus point for keeping the margin of defeat under eight points.

For the locals Leigh Tyley continued his rich vein of form and Kris Mathie, Gregor Fletcher and Kenny Diffenthal all worked tirelessly in the backs while up front Martin Lavelle, Matt Gray and Ally Abernethy put in another typically committed shift.

The Greenock pack achieved parity in the set-piece battle but it was in open play that Kirkcaldy showed their superiority.

Wanderers’ downfall was largely self-inflicted as they tackled poorly at key times and also had a propensity to infringe at the contact zone leading to a high penalty count being awarded against them.

Referee Graeme Ormiston had a fine match and went to his pocket only once to send Greenock’s Lavelle to the sin bin but in truth could have brandished the yellow card several more times as the locals repeatedly broke the offside law at the breakdown.

Kirkcaldy started brightly and kept Wanderers pinned back deep inside their own territory for almost the entire first half.

Two early penalty opportunities were missed by visiting full-back Finlay Smith but he finally got his eye in and slotted his next two efforts, in the 22nd and 25th minute, to give the Fifers a deserved six point advantage.

The pattern of play had been established with Kirkcaldy going through the phases and making ground with some impressive continuity play while Greenock did all they could to stem the royal blue tide that threatened to engulf them .

On the half hour mark powerful second row Rhys Bonner exposed Wanderers tackling frailties when he barged through the centre channel, shrugging off three ineffective challenges as he sauntered over and touched down under the posts.

Smith’s conversion attempt was charged down but at 11-0 the signs were ominous that the visitors might run away with the match.

Those fears gained more credence on the stroke of half-time when Greenock were reduced to fourteen men after Lavelle was yellow-carded for preventing fair release of the ball at the ruck.

Head coach Graham Knox clearly expounded some words of encouragement to his players at the interval and also introduced veteran stand-off Kenny Diffenthal in the second period.

This had a galvanising effect on the Wanderers effort. Some intelligent tactical kicking from the South African put Wanderers onto the front foot and for the first time in the match the locals went onto the attack and held the initiative.

On 60 minutes Lavelle, restored after his ten minute hiatus in the sin bin, launched an attack off the base of a scrum from just inside Wanderers half and carried play ten yards, engaging the opposition back row defence.

Quick recycling allowed scrum half Mathie to spread the play and he found Tyley who entered the line at pace and burst through the outside centre channel. He carried play thirty yards before drawing his opposite man and releasing winger Fletcher to breeze in at the corner. Diffenthal converted from wide on the left and with the deficit reduced to 11-7 Wanderers were now very much back in contention.

Five minutes later a fine Michael Frizzell break through the centre took play close to the Kirkcaldy line, forcing the visitors this time to infringe to save what looked like a certain try.

Diffenthal made no mistake from the penalty to close the gap to a solitary point.

With fifteen minutes left Greenock looked the team most likely to go on and clinch victory but the men from Beveridge Park rallied strongly and steadied the ship. They reasserted themselves by reverting to their efficient rucking game and regained the initiative by going through the phases and controlling possession.

On 72 minutes another penalty went the way of the visitors and Smith completed the scoring with a sweet strike from 40 yards out that effectively sealed victory.

Wanderers head to Cupar next weekend on league business when they face table toppers and championship favourites Howe of Fife.

Wanderers are sponsored by Texas Instruments