PORT Glasgow were knocked off the top of the league table on Saturday after this defeat at home to St. Anthony’s.

The Port can have no complaints about losing their 100 per cent league record, as manager Craig Brown’s pre-match forecast that the Ants would be dangerous opponents proved to be bang on.

The Glasgow club had the bulk of the first half possession but it was Port Glasgow who came closest to opening the scoring with good efforts from Scott Nugent and Kevin McKay.

Then on 33 minutes Nugent, right, put the Port ahead with one of his trademark free-kicks, a glorious strike from 25 yards out which flew past Ants keeper Jon Connolly and into the net.

However the Port could not quite hold on to their lead until the interval, and an equally fine strike from distance saw Thomas Miller level the scores just before the break.The opening period of the second half was action-packed, with three goals and a controversial penalty in the space of 18 minutes.

Nugent put the Port ahead again on 47 minutes with a shot from close range, but just four minutes later referee Grant Irvine pointed to the spot for an alleged hand-ball by Jamie Brown, who was booked for the offence. Kevin McKay and Barri Stanton also saw yellow for their furious protests that the ball had actually hit Brown’s leg, but when the dust settled Bryan Tucker pulled off a fine save from Stephen McMullen’s penalty.

Rather than take heart from this reprieve, Port Glasgow’s play dipped and an Abou Mansari header in 61 minutes levelled the scores again.

And just two minutes later, the Port lost possession from their own throw-in and Ronald MacDonald fired the Ants ahead.

Port Glasgow brought on all three subs in a bid to salvage a point, but it was to no avail as the visitors shut up shop and killed the game off to inflict the Port’s first league defeat of the season.

Manager Craig Brown said: ‘’We lost our concentration for 10 minutes after the penalty incident and got punished badly for it. St. Anthony’s lifted the tempo after we went 2-1 up and we struggled to live with it. I am disappointed we lost but have no complaints about the result.’’ PORT GLASGOW: Tucker, McGarrigle, Joyce, Brown, Beckley, K. McKay, B. Stanton (F McKay 70), Wilson (Power 70), Nugent, Donnelly (Donnachie 76), A. McEwan. Subs not used: C. McEwan, Stinson, Kidd. Port Glasgow Juniors are sponsored by 5 Star Plasterers, EMG Construction (Ltd), and WJ.

A FLAT performance by Greenock meant there was no real chance of repeating their win against the Vale at the same venue just four weeks ago.

The manner of the opening goal in virtually the opening minute pretty much set the tone for the match.

Two weak challenges in midfield allowed the Vale to press forward, and with most of the defence missing it was left to Barry McLaughlin to intercept a tap in but then bulleted into his own net.

Greenock fought their way back into the game, and on 34 minutes Kevin Brown headed narrowly over from an Alan Jamieson cross. Brown had another chance when a cross to the back post found him in the clear eight yards out, but his volley went straight into the keeper’s hands.

Just when it looked like the first half would end at 1-0, a corner was misjudged by keeper Mark Monk, allowing Kenny Wilson to head home and double the Vale’s lead.

Greenock had the bulk of the possession in the second half, and substitute Kenny McKay twice came close to pulling a goal back, and on 61 minutes a 25-yard drive from Brown looked netbound until home keeper Martin Grindlay tipped it onto the post and round for a corner.

But any chance of a Greenock comeback was killed off in 75 minutes, when slack defending allowed Alan Filshie to head home unmarked.

Mark Bowie bundled the ball home after a goalmouth stramash to make it 4-0 10 minutes from time, and Greenock got their consolation near the end when Jamieson outjumped everyone to head home.

A disappointed Greenock boss Stevie Mooney, just back from honeymoon, said: ‘’We were down to the bare bones with a number of players missing, but I am not making excuses, we have the size of squad that should be able to deal with that. It is a concern that we have lost seven goals in our last two games, so it will be back to the drawing board on Monday.’’ GREENOCK: Monk, Irvine (McLaughlin 45), McCormick (Trialist 72), McLaughlin, Stirling, Keys, Bradley, Fleming (McKay 45), Brown, Docherty, Jamieson. Greenock Juniors are sponsored by Regents Vehicle Sales, Greenock, Kingsley Wood Solicitors and Notaries, and the Lighthouse Bar.