GREENOCK’S first match of 2014 saw them comprehensively beaten, as Troon showed why they are genuine title contenders in the Super League First Division.

The Ayrshire club has clearly had some financial investment this season, not just on the playing side but also behind the scenes, with the surface at Portland Park immaculate on a day when many games elsewhere were postponed.

Their zealous groundsman watches over his beloved turf in the same way a mother dotes on her new-born, but the team has also had some money ploughed into it.

A rumoured hefty four-figure sum brought Gavin Collins from Auchinleck Talbot just before Christmas, and the four-times Scottish Junior Cup winner netted his first goal for Troon, as he broke the deadlock after 27 minutes. The 30-year-old centre half’s header from a corner kick was parried away by Greenock keeper Mark Monk, but with the defence slow to react, it was Collins who was first to the rebound to fire home from 10 yards out.

The goal had been coming, as Troon had enjoyed the bulk of the pressure in the opening stages, and should have taken the lead earlier when Tony Murphy was in the clear but skied the ball high over the bar.

Murphy should then have added to Collins’ opener, but the ball somehow got stuck between his feet with the goal at his mercy.

With Greenock rarely showing in attack, Collins was continuing to press forward, and it took a full-length dive from Monk to tip a 25-yard netbound shot from the centre-half over the bar.

But the keeper was relieved on 36 minutes when Troon’s Stevie Wilson rounded him and fell to the turf under Monk’s challenge.

With the home crowd expecting a spot-kick, referee David Ingram decided Wilson had dived and booked the Troon forward.

The Greenock rearguard remained under pressure, and bookings followed for Mark Downie and Martin Orr, with Downie’s challenge on Gareth Turner seeing the Troon man hobble off the pitch and appear on the sidelines supported by crutches in the second half.

Meanwhile, Collins remained determined to add to his goal, and almost got it as his header crashed off the bar five minutes before half-time — but David Gillies netted from the rebound to send Troon in 2-0 up at the break.

Feelings were running high over Downie’s earlier challenge, and a verbal bust-up between Greenock assistant manager Martin Campbell and a member of the Troon management team saw both ‘invited’ by referee Ingram not to take their places in the respective dug-outs for the second half.

And Greenock’s ranks on the field were then also depleted, with Orr sent off after picking up another yellow card on 57 minutes.

Andy Irvine became the latest Greenock player to be booked with 66 minutes on the clock, and from the resultant free-kick Murphy’s pile-driver crashed back off the bar.

Murphy then had a shot blocked by Monk, as the keeper’s impressive display kept the score respectable, albeit with the help of Alan Williams’ goal-line clearance as the deflected ball headed towards the net.

An eventful afternoon for Troon’s Collins saw him booked for a foul, but the smile was back on his face on 79 minutes as his side grabbed a third goal.

A simple cross from the left wing fell to the unmarked Calum Hardie for an easy header into the net.

Troon were now threatening to score with every attack, and Wilson should have made it four when he was put through clear on goal two minutes later.

The striker managed the hard bit with a neat lob over Monk, but with the open goal in front of him he somehow screwed his shot wide from six yards out.

It must rank as the miss of the season, and as the home fans concluded that at least Wilson’s embarrassment would not have been captured on film, they obviously hadn’t spotted Gerry Begley, father of Greenock defender Ryan, with his trusty video camera rolling at the end of the ground where the Troon man missed the open goal.

A sure-fire entry on YouTube must beckon.

Meanwhile, with Greenock just hoping for the final whistle, Troon struck again on the stroke of full-time, when Murphy finally got himself on the score sheet with a tap-in after the Greenock defence had been split wide open again.

It was a difficult day for manager Stevie Mooney’s men, with barely any serious threat to the Troon goal during the 90 minutes, despite sole striker John Carter’s efforts.

The gaffer conceded his side had been outplayed.

He said: “We were well beaten by a very good Troon team. “But money talks, and it is clear Troon have been able to strengthen their side, with some on good wages, while most of our players are playing for nothing.

“But we were too quiet at the back, and need to be better organised and more loud and aggressive.” Greenock: Monk, Orr, Doherty, Irvine, Scott (Dallas 36), Kearns (L. Docherty 62), Downie, Dow, Carter, Boyd (McKenna 62), Williams. Subs not used: Mooney, Campbell.

Greenock Juniors are sponsored by SAVEHEAT, and the Lighthouse Bar.