Greenock Juniors crash out of cup
Gary Pews • Published 27 Dec 2011 13:00
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IN VAIN: Ross Kearns gave the away side the lead but Greenock crashed out of the competition
Bellshill 2-1 Greenock Juniors
GREENOCK failed to give their fans a Christmas cheer after they were bundled out of the Scottish Junior Cup at the third round stage following a poor performance on Saturday.
Played at the neutral venue of Holm Park in Yoker after four previous attempts to stage the tie elsewhere, Stevie Mooney's men can have no complaints at the result, although they did come within 12 minutes of forcing a replay on Hogmanay.
And to cap a miserable day for the team, young defender Kearn Docherty spent Christmas Day in hospital after suffering a serious injury resulting in a broken foot.
On a very heavy pitch and with dismal overhead conditions, Greenock were second best in almost every department to the Lanarkshire men.
Strikers John Boyd and John Carter struggled to make any impression on a solid Bellshill defence, while Stevie Dallas - back playing in his home Clydebank area - was virtually anonymous in midfield.
And while keeper Mark Monk kept Greenock in the tie with some fine saves, he will be disappointed not to have prevented the shot for Bellshill's winning goal from squirming under his body and trundling into the net.
Bellshill had the better of the first half without seriously threatening the Greenock goal.
The only chance of note came on 26 minutes, when Andy Selkirk saw his netbound shot turned round the post by a fine reflex save from Monk.
John Boyd netted both of Greenock's goals when the teams last met on league business in November, but the big striker was well marshalled this time around by Derek Wilson, Bellshill's recent signing from Fauldhouse United, the conquerors of Port Glasgow in the previous round of the cup.
It was a surprise Greenock had managed to keep the scoreline level at half-time, and an even bigger one when they took the lead just four minutes into the second half.
A sliced clearance by Bellshill keeper Jamie Donnelly went straight to Allan Jamieson on the left wing, and his chipped pass into the box was met sweetly on the volley by Ross Kearns for an excellent goal.
But Greenock's joy barely lasted 60 seconds, as Bellshill swept into attack from the restart.
Selkirk broke through the defence and drove the ball across goal, where an unmarked Gary Redpath slid in to fire home from six-yards out.
The match livened up considerably as Greenock posed more of a threat up front, and another Kearns effort was well held by Donnelly in the Bellshill goal.
But the away side suffered a blow when Docherty went down after an accidental collision with an opponent, with the defender later taken to Glasgow's Western Infirmary by paramedics and detained overnight for emergency surgery on his broken foot.
With swirling rain now adding to the ferocious wind, Bellshill sensed the game was there for the taking.
However, they were thwarted by an acrobatic save by Monk to turn a netbound Redpath header round the post after 76 minutes.
But the keeper was less than impressive just two minutes later, when a kick-out from his opposite number in the Bellshill goal fell straight to Selkirk on the edge of the box.
With no challenge from the Greenock defence, the striker was able to fire in a shot which saw Monk look on in agony as the ball slipped from his grasp and went into the net.
Greenock staged a late rally and substitute Kieran Pettigrew saw a shot fly inches past the post, before referee David Roome's whistle sounded to mark the end of their Scottish Cup campaign for another season.
Disappointed manager Stevie Mooney, above right, said: "The conditions were difficult but we never played to our best and I have to admit the better team won.
"I wouldn't blame Mark for Bellshill's winner, as our defence failed to close their player down to stop him from getting in the shot in the first place.
"It was a sore result, but we have to take it on the chin and bounce back in the New Year.''
After their shortened festive break, the next challenge for Mooney's men will be the local derby against Port Glasgow when the season resumes on Saturday 7 January.
GREENOCK: Monk, M Docherty, T Jamieson, Begley (Pettigrew 79), K Docherty (Fleming 71), Smyth, Kearns, Dallas, Carter, Boyd (Mackay 64), A Jamieson. Subs not used: Irvine, McCormick.
l Greenock Juniors are sponsored by Regents Vehicle Sales, Greenock, and the Lighthouse Bar.
This article appeared in Greenock Telegraph 27 Dec 11
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