Port facing 'tricky' home tie
Published 10 Feb 2012 13:30
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Port Glasgow v St Roch's
PORT Glasgow might be having a groundhog day experience this week.
Last Friday they were hoping the milder temperatures promised by the forecasters would have a sufficient impact on frost-bound pitches to enable their game to go ahead.
And they are facing exactly the same scenario again this week, only hoping for a better outcome following the postponement of last week's match at Benburb.
It would be a pity if tomorrow's game suffered the same fate, because it sees the return of the Port to something resembling a home game after a number of away fixtures due to Battery Park being out of action.
With the refurbishment of Ravenscraig Stadium almost complete, it returns to hosting football matches for the first time in almost a year tomorrow, when Port Glasgow face St Roch's in a second round tie in the West of Scotland Cup. But with the changing rooms not quite ready, the sides will get ready in the adjacent Aileymill Primary School.
The 'Candy Rock' may be in the basement Second Division League but they will come to Ravenscraig on a real high, after a stunning run in this season's Scottish Cup.
For the first time in almost half a century, the Glasgow club have reached the last 16 of the national tournament, where they have pulled a plum tie with a trip to face Auchinleck Talbot next Saturday.
They are also going reasonably well in the league, and are still very much in the mix for one of the three promotion places.
Port boss Craig Brown has not seen St Roch's in action, but knows enough about them to suggest they will be tricky opponents.
He said: ''The information I have is that they are a good, experienced side. The fact that they got to this round of the West of Scotland Cup by beating Girvan 4-2 in Ayrshire is ample evidence of that. But this is an important competition and we are equally keen to progress through to the last 16.''
The Port will be without Barri Stanton, pictured, after the young defender suffered a foot knock in last week's friendly against the Morton youth team. The injury did not appear too bad at first, but a later examination revealed a fractured bone in his foot. It is likely that Stanton will be ruled out for the next few weeks.
Meanwhile, Frankie McKay is rated as 50-50 to make tomorrow's match due to an ankle injury.
Port Glasgow Juniors are sponsored by Regents Vehicle Sales, Greenock, and WJ.
This article appeared in Greenock Telegraph 10 Feb 12
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