Mixed weekend for juniors

Gary Pews • Published 9 Aug 2010 14:00 0 Comments

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FEELING THE HEAT: Port Glasgow slipped to a 4-1 defeat. Picture: Joe Mulgrew

GREENOCK'S fine start to the season continued with this solid performance at Ravenscraig on Saturday.

Greenock went in at the interval 3-1 ahead, and their lead was hardly threatened in the second half by a surprisingly inept Burgh side, whose second goal came with virtually the last kick.

As they did last Wednesday against Port Glasgow, Greenock came out of the traps flying and got an early goal after just six minutes.

Ryan MacDonald picked up a pass from Jason McLaughlin on the edge of the box and sent a low drive past Burgh keeper Fraser Wilson.

The Ravenscraig men were stunned 10 minutes later when poor marking at a corner kick allowed Martin McIntyre to head home the equaliser.

Home skipper Thomas Docherty got his second goal in as many matches to put his side back into the lead with a fine shot on 25 minutes.

It was a quality strike but was perhaps even bettered just four minutes later as a rampant Greenock struck again.

Barry McLaughlin chased what looked like a lost cause to scoop the ball back from the goal-line into the path of MacDonald, whose glorious volley flew high into the net.

After such a highly entertaining first half, it was hardly surprising that the pace of the match eased off after the break.

Burgh got a late consolation deep into injury time through Ross Hamilton.

The result keeps Greenock at the top of their league cup section ahead of Wednesday's crucial match at Vale of Leven.

Assistant manager Martin Campbell said: ''I am delighted with the way things are going.

GREENOCK: Waterson, Irvine, Stirling, B. McLaughlin, M. Docherty, J. McLaughlin, T. Docherty (Bradley 61), Kearns (Fleming 69), MacDonald (McKay 61), R. Jamieson, A. Jamieson. Subs not used: McCormick, McEmerson, Brown, Monk.

* Greenock Juniors are sponsored by Regents Vehicle Sales, Greenock, Kingsley Wood Solicitors and Notaries, and the Lighthouse Bar.

PORT Glasgow put up a brave fight against their higher league opponents before eventually succumbing to some late goals.

The match started disastrously for the local side, conceding the opening goal after just 60 seconds, when a misplaced clearance fell to an unmarked Renfrew striker who tapped home.

The Port recovered and levelled the scores five minutes before the break.

A Joe Donnachie shot from the edge of the box looked to have been gathered safely by the home keeper but he then let the ball squirm from his grasp.

His desperate attempt to stop it crossing the line looked to have succeeded but, amid protests from the Renfrew players, the referee awarded the goal.

It was evenly matched for most of the second half, but when Jamie Brown was short with a back-header in 70 minutes, a Renfrew player nipped in to put his side back into the lead.

The Port looked to have levelled the match shortly afterwards, when Frank McKay netted, but the goal was chalked off for offside.

Port then fell 3-1 behind when a home player was given a free header from a corner on 78 minutes.

Renfrew got their fourth near the end and Graham Mort's 20-yard strike was an excellent goal.

Port boss Craig Brown stressed: "Individual errors cost us the goals. It is a steep learning curve.''

PORT GLASGOW: Tucker, Stinson, Joyce, J. Brown, Beckley, K. McKay, B. Stanton (Struthers 60), Wilson, Donnachie (Nugent 60), Donnelly (F. McKay 60), A. McEwan. Subs not used: Temporal, Kidd.

• Port Glasgow Juniors are sponsored by 5 Star Plasterers, and WJ

This article appeared in Greenock Telegraph 09 Aug 10

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