FORMER Greenock player Ross Kearns returned to haunt his old club, scoring one of the goals to send Port Glasgow into the quarter-finals of the Sectional League Cup.

The Port only needed a draw to make it through to the knock-out stages at the expense of Greenock, and that is exactly what they got in a full-blooded local derby.

A decent crowd made the trek to Johnstone Burgh’s Keanie Park, and while they didn’t witness much football, they saw plenty of incidents in a highly-charged atmosphere, with every tackle fiercely contested.

Referee Willie Cowie resisted the temptation to flash his cards early on as the crunching challenges flew in, but it was inevitable that his patience would run out, and it was Greenock whose indiscipline cost them dearly, with Alan Williams and Allan Docherty both sent off early in the second half.

The whistler also had a few penalty claims to deal with during the match, starting in the 10th minute when the Port’s Scott Nugent tumbled in the box amid claims of a jersey tug, but nothing was given.

Shorty afterwards at the other end, it was Greenock’s turn to claim for a spot-kick when Martin Dow tangled with Port keeper Robbie Graham, but again referee Cowie waved away the claims.Greenock were on top at this stage and looked set to take the lead on 20 minutes when Allan Docherty threaded a pass through to Jamie McKenna. But as the striker bore in on goal, Eddie Walton raced back to get in a perfectly timed tackle.

The deadlock was broken on 33 minutes when Greenock were awarded a free-kick just outside the box, and Martin Orr curled the ball round the defensive wall and high into the top left corner of the net.

The Port then had some near things as the interval approached.

Greenock were fortunate to see another penalty claim from the Port turned down, as keeper Mark Monk appeared to haul down Graham Black in the box.

Then Monk had to look lively to tip the ball over the bar, after a Nugent cross took a wicked deflection off Paul Scott, and Greenock went in 1-0 up at the interval.

But Nugent did eventually get on the score-sheet as Port Glasgow levelled on the hour mark. The striker found himself in acres of space as a Paul Coyle free-kick came into the box, and he headed home to level the score.

Greenock were then reduced to nine men, with two red cards in the space of a few minutes.

Williams, who was just back this week from a two-match ban, saw red yet again for a dangerous tackle on Gus Gault.

And he was soon followed into the dressing room by Allan Docherty for a kick at Graeme McClement.

That looked to have spelt the end of Greenock’s chances of getting the win they needed to top the group, and things got even worse when Kearns got his goal with just seven minutes remaining, when he drilled a low shot past Monk from 10 yards out.

But, amazingly, nine-man Greenock made it 2-2 on 89 minutes, when Martin Dow got on the end of a corner kick to blast a fine volley into the net.

However the Port survived a nervy few minutes of stoppage time to secure the point which sees them travel to Uddingston to face Thorniewood in Wednesday evening’s quarter-final tie (kick-off 6.30pm).

Goal-hero Kearns admitted it was strange playing against his team-mates of the last five years.

He said: “You always get a bit of stick when you are playing against your old club, and the texts were flying around on Saturday morning.

“A lot of the players on both sides are actually good friends with each other, but on the park they are enemies for 90 minutes, so it was good to get the goal which gave us the draw we needed to go through.’’ Port boss Craig Brown said: “I was disappointed in our first half performance, but we were much better in the second half, especially when we got a bit more space after Greenock went down to nine men.

“We had to be cagey and kept four at the back, even when we were 2-1 up, as obviously we knew a point would be enough, and overall the boys kept their discipline and did a perfectly good job.’’ Greenock manager Martin Campbell admitted the red cards, over which he had no argument, had cost his side.

He said: “We thought we had nipped our indiscipline in the bud after the problems of last season, but it came to the fore again today and definitely changed the game.

“I thought we were reasonably comfortable when we were one up, and we were probably just edging it when it was 11 v 11, and could have gone on to win the game.

“But you are always going to struggle when you get two men sent off, and so obviously I am disappointed not to have got through the league cup section.’’ PORT GLASGOW: Graham, Gordon, Coyle, Walton, McClement, Gault (McKay 73), Kearns, Grana, Nugent, Black (McAfee 81), Jamieson (McCormick 68). Subs not used: Sharp, K. Docherty.

GREENOCK: Monk, Orr, T. Docherty (McLachlan 67), Scott, McGarrigle, Williams, Brown, Dow, McKenna, A. Docherty, McKay (N. Docherty 83). Subs not used: L. Docherty, J. Boyd Jnr., McWilliams.

Port Glasgow Juniors are sponsored by Regents Vehicle Sales, Greenock, and MAC HSL Ltd. Greenock Juniors are sponsored by SAVEHEAT, and the Lighthouse Bar.