PORT Glasgow are into the semi-finals of the Sectional League Cup, after an excellent performance at Thorniewood last night.

Facing a side two leagues above them, the Port were at no time overawed by the occasion or the opposition, and now go on to another away match at Cumbernauld in next Wednesday’s semi-final.

A good start was important last night, and the Port were gifted it on 14 minutes courtesy of a blunder by Thorniewood keeper Graeme Murphy.

A Paul Coyle cross from the left posed no danger, but the keeper spilled the ball almost on his goal-line, allowing the ever-alert Scott Nugent to pounce and blast home from point-blank range.

Just three minutes later Nugent almost netted again, when a long ball from Brendan Grana put him through on goal. The striker lobbed the keeper, but then watched on in agony as the ball came back off the post.

Nugent was terrorising the Thorniewood defence and had the ball in the net in the Port’s next attack, but his effort was chalked off for offside.

The home side then applied some pressure but the Port defence stood firm, and with three minutes of the first half remaining they made it 2-0 when Ross Kearns fired home following a goalmouth scramble.

A pumped-up Thorniewood came out all guns blazing in the second half, although Nugent could have sealed the match just 11 minutes after the restart, but his low shot was blocked by home keeper Murphy. But the Uddingston side pulled one back on 65 minutes, when a header from Brendan Smith found the net, despite the efforts of Alan Jamieson on the line.

The Port defence then withstood some more home pressure, and sealed the victory a minute from time, when substitute Graham Black set up Brendan Sharpe for the teenager to drive a low shot into the net.

Port manager Craig Brown said: “We were great in the first half and played some really good football.

“In the second half we had chances to kill the game off, and Thorniewood came back into it a bit, but overall it was an excellent performance and I am delighted that we are in the semi-finals.” Port Glasgow: Graham, Grana, Coyle, Walton, Docherty, McKay, Kearns, Connolly (Ellis 87), Nugent (Black 73), Sharpe, Jamieson (McClement 83). Sub not used: McCormick Port Glasgow Juniors are sponsored by Regents Vehicle Sales, Greenock, and MAC HSL Ltd.