60 seconds of madness

Gary Pews - Gary Pews • Published 27 Apr 2009 12:30

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Greenock 1 Carluke Rovers 3

GREENOCK"S stuttering end of season form continued on Saturday with a disappointing defeat.

To be fair, though, a neutral observer might not have known the outcome of the match meant little to the home team, while for Carluke it was a vital three points to nudge them closer to promotion.

The main difference between the teams was Greenock"s lack of a cutting edge up front, and a mad minute in defence which saw the Rovers net twice early in the second half.

Stuart McKay and Stephen Docherty missed early chances for the Ravenscraig men and they paid the price when Carluke took the lead in 26 minutes.

Dougie Wilson could only parry a fierce drive and Stewart Arnott was first to react to bundle home the rebound from close range.

Greenock responded instantly and levelled just two minutes later. A cross from Kevin Brown was met by Ryan MacDonald, whose header hit a post before trundling over the line.

The game then hit a tetchy period, with young McKay perhaps fortunate to escape with just a booking for a late challenge on the Rovers" Ross Barton. Ref William Cowie also brandished yellows to MacDonald and Carluke"s Bryan Caldwell for their part in the ensuing melée.

Barton"s duel with McKay continued, and resulted in a booking for the Rovers player for a tug at McKay"s shirt.

The teams went in level at the interval, but a crazy 60 seconds just after the break settled the outcome.

Garry Frame put Carluke ahead in 52 minutes when he was left unmarked at the back post to head home from a corner kick.

And before supporters had drawn breath it was 3-1 when Kris Jarvie bundled the ball in from close range.

Amid a flurry of substitutions, Greenock battled on and pinned Carluke back for long periods, but the Lanarkshire men were strong in defence, and there were few clear-cut chances before the final whistle sounded - much to Carluke"s delight.

Their joy was further evident with loud cheers coming from the away dressing room as results elsewhere confirmed they had moved into one of the three promotion places in the league table.

It was not what Greenock player-manager Stevie Mooney wanted to hear, but he saw aspects of his team"s performance which pleased him.

Mooney, who rested himself to give some of the fringe players a start, said: 'I thought we were outstanding at times, especially in the first half and near the end of the game when we kept the ball and passed it about well.

'But we switched off in that mad spell in the second half and were punished for it.

'It has been disappointing the way the season has fizzled out, but it has to be remembered that ten of the boys are playing in their first season in the juniors.

'They have done well, but have let themselves down at times and will hopefully learn from the experience.'

The season is not over yet, of course, with Greenock back in action again tonight against St Roch"s at Ravenscraig, kick-off 7pm.

Greenock: Wilson, Middlesworth, McLennan, McLaughlin, Stirling, S Docherty, Crawford (Percival 80), T Docherty (Gilmour 71), Brown, MacDonald (McKellar 58), McKay. Subs not used: McWilliams, Donnelly.

Greenock Juniors are sponsored by Allied Trades Ltd, Kingsley Wood Solicitors and Notaries, and the Lighthouse Bar.

This article appeared in Greenock Telegraph 27 Apr 09

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