MARTIN Campbell’s managerial career got off to a bad start, as his Greenock side lost their opening match in the Sectional League Cup.

But the new gaffer, making the step-up after the resignation of Stevie Mooney in May, was severely hampered by a combination of suspensions and injuries, and had to rely on several trialists just to make up the team.

Meanwhile, Campbell’s assistant, John Boyd, and new team coach John Paul Dow, had to be listed as subs, though even with that the bench was still one short of the permitted five named players.

So it was no great surprise that Johnstone Burgh made all the running in the opening stages, and were 2-0 up within the opening half hour.

Burgh striker Neil Dinnen opened the scoring on 20 minutes, when he cut in from the left and drifted past two Greenock defenders before drilling a shot from 20 yards out past home keeper Mark Monk.

Just eight minutes later, Dinnen netted again with an almost identical goal, though this time with a well-executed volley.

Greenock then gradually got more into the match, and felt they should have had a penalty on 33 minutes when Neil Docherty appeared to be clipped from behind as he prepared to shoot.

However, referee Chris Graham turned down the claims, and the whistler angered the home contingent even more with a controversial decision eight minutes before the interval.

An Alan Docherty shot hit the post and was then turned into the net by Jamie McKenna. Referee Graham appeared to award the goal, but in the wake of protests from the Johnstone Burgh defenders he then consulted one of his assistants and chalked off McKenna’s strike, much to the fury of the home side.

McLachlan then missed a sitter from three yards out as Greenock ended the first half on top.

And early in the second period Alan Docherty had a chance to reduce the deficit, but the striker sliced his shot wide after being put through on visiting keeper Fraser Wilson.

Greenock’s chances looked bleak when Paul Scott picked up a second booking for an innocuous foul on 65 minutes and was sent off.

But they were given a glimmer of hope 12 minutes from time, when Alan Docherty latched on to a through ball and lobbed a neat shot over Wilson and into the net.

However they couldn’t find the net again, as the Burgh held on to take the three points.

Manager Campbell said: ‘’Obviously it was disappointing to lose the match, but in the circumstances the team we managed to put together actually did very well, and near the end we might have taken a point from the game.

‘’I also think the refereeing decisions didn’t go our way, with the cancelled goal and then Paul’s red card, which was ridiculous.

“His first booking was harsh, but the decision for the second one was even worse, for what was nothing more than a routine foul.

‘’I would like to thank the boys who came in to help us out today to see us through a difficult situation, with so many players missing.’’ GREENOCK: Monk, T. Docherty, Doherty (Gillen 64), Scott, McGarrigle, McCorkindale (J. Boyd Jnr. 56), N. Docherty, McKay, McKenna, A. Docherty, McLachlan. Subs not used: J. Boyd Snr., Dow.

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