Published: Monday, 1st June, 2009 12:00pm

Port's highs and lows

LANARK 0 PORT GLASGOW 1

IT WAS a case of the agony and the ecstasy for Port Glasgow at a sweltering Lanark on Friday night.

The high was a return to form which brought three vital points in their bid to escape the drop.

But the low point of the evening was when news filtered through from Ayrshire that fellow relegation candidates Annbank had also won, beating Kilbirnie Ladeside 2-1.

The end result is that the Port must beat Clydebank at Ravenscraig tomorrow night, then hope that Annbank lose their final league match against Renfrew.

That sequence of results would see the Port remain in the Super League First Division on goal difference.

Stewart Jack was the goal hero on Friday, netting the only counter of a hard-fought match in 30 minutes. Scott Nugent left two Lanark defenders in his wake, and flighted over a cross which Jack met in the box to thunder home.

In a tight game played in scorching heat, Lanark threw everything at the Port defence in a bid to get the points which would have clinched third place and a promotion play-off spot.

But the Port sat in and defended well, though it took a series of outstanding saves from Steven Kidd, playing against his former club, to preserve the lead and hang on to the three points.

Port boss Craig Brown said: 'It was a great performance from the team. We did what many teams have done to us this season, getting the opening goal and sitting in.

'We were disappointed to hear the Annbank result, but it is far from over yet. If we beat Clydebank, the pressure will fall right back on Annbank in their last game.'

The Bankies will be giving their all tomorrow night, as ironically Port"s win means they can now overtake Lanark for that third place in the league if they win their remaining three fixtures.

But the Port showed at Lanark that they have the ability to raise their game for such big occasions.

If they do claim the win tomorrow, it could be a tense wait before the relegation issue is settled.

League bosses have indicated that Annbank"s last match will not be played until a week on Saturday, 13 June.

Port Glasgow: Kidd, Temporal, Coyle, A. Banks, Walton, Jack, Hoey (S. Banks 70), Walker, Jamieson (Beckley 82), Nugent, Struthers. Subs not used: Devlin, S. Banks, Loughran.

Port Glasgow Juniors are sponsored by WJ. Strips sponsored by Swordfish Signs and Re-Max Ltd.

● Port Glasgow meet Clydebank at Ravenscraig Stadium, tomorrow, kick-off 7.30pm.