Injury crises eases for Port Glasgow
Gary Pews • Published 9 Dec 2011 13:00
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A PERFECTLY playable Battery Park looks likely to lie empty again tomorrow afternoon, thanks to the West Region's crazy fixture scheduling.
For the second Saturday in a row, both local clubs are away from home, and while Greenock have no option with their match being a Scottish Cup tie, the same cannot be said for Port Glasgow.
The Port have yet to face a number of other Central League First Division clubs at home, but after last week's postponement at Benburb, Craig Brown's men have now been sent on the road again, this time to face Vale of Leven.
The Vale's pitch at Millburn in Alexandria is normally able to withstand the worst of the weather, but even it is struggling to cope with this week's horrendous conditions.
Vale secretary Angus Wallace said: "The pitch is fine on the wings, but the middle of one half still has a lot of water on it, so at the moment the forecast for the match is not good."
Port boss Brown will be anxious for the match to go ahead, with signs that his squad's injury crisis is at last beginning to ease.
Ryan MacDonald and Kevin McKay return from work and holiday commitments respectively, but Eddie Joyce and Kevin Brown are still struggling and are far from certainties for tomorrow.
If the game does get the green light, Port Glasgow will be chasing their third win over the Vale so far this season.
A 3-1 victory in the Sectional League Cup match in August was followed by an identical scoreline in the league game at Battery Park a month later.
The Port left it late on that occasion, with injury time goals from Scott Nugent and Kevin McKay securing the points.
But Brown still rates the Vale as difficult opponents.
He said: "The park at Millburn is usually in good condition, and games there are very rarely off, but the conditions this week have been exceptionally bad.
"So we hope the game will take place, but realise that playing the Vale away from home is always a tough fixture."
The kick-off is scheduled for 1.45pm.
l Port Glasgow Juniors are sponsored by Regents Vehicle Sales, Greenock, and WJ.
This article appeared in Greenock Telegraph 09 Dec 11
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