GREENOCK were overcome by a strong Cumbernauld side who were clearly still on a high after their League Cup trophy winning exploits from the week before.

In what was an often edgy encounter, Greenock had no fewer than seven players booked, and their cause was further hampered with the ordering-off of Alan Williams early in the second half.

Cumbernauld came out the traps flying and almost took the lead just 10 minutes in, when James Steele steered in a low shot which beat visiting keeper Mark Monk but hit the post.

Seconds later a last-gasp block from David McGarrigle deflected a netbound effort from Ross Foley.

Monk then pulled off a good save from Cumbernauld’s Gavin Mackie as the home side piled forward in search of the elusive opening goal.

Greenock’s only contribution in attack to this point had been a Martin Orr effort comfortably saved by home keeper Barry Fraser.

And they had an incredible escape on 23 minutes, when Tony Fraser drove in a low cross from the left wing. The ball took a wicked deflection off McGarrigle, and an own goal looked certain until Monk leapt to tip the ball onto the bar with a great reflex save. The rebound fell to Danny Boyle, whose close-range header also cannoned off the woodwork.

The charmed life being enjoyed by the Greenock defence continued five minutes later, when Mackie tumbled to the ground in the box under a challenge from Monk. With all eyes on referee Chris Graham, the whistler decided the Cumbernauld man had dived and booked him rather than awarding a penalty kick. But on 33 minutes the referee did point to the spot, when Alan Williams brought Gary Carroll down in the box.

Williams had already been booked earlier, and another yellow card looked inevitable — but ref Graham opted for the award of the spot-kick as being sufficient punishment, with Monk and Barri Stanton the only players booked for disputing the award. Home centre-forward Chris Zok wasn’t complaining, though, as he drilled the ball home from the spot to finally put Cumbernauld ahead.

The second half began in much the same vein, with Cumbernauld well on top.

Williams in the Greenock defence was looking increasingly likely to pick up his second yellow card, a fact recognised by manager Martin Campbell’s decision to take him off just nine minutes into the half.

However the defender appeared to have made a derogatory comment to an opposing player as he left the pitch, and ref Graham raced over to brandish a straight red card, meaning the planned substitution couldn’t be made.

As the incessant rain began to make conditions difficult on the park, the match became bogged down, with the now 10-man Greenock side actually enjoying their best spell of the game, but without creating any clear-cut chances. However, Cumbernauld then began to re-assert their authority, and on 69 minutes a Foley shot went inches wide, followed by a Fraser power-drive from 30 yards out which was parried over by Monk.

With Greenock coach John Paul Dow already sent from the dug-out after an earlier altercation, there was another fracas in that area as the visitors’ frustration grew, though this time the referee settled for speaking to the various parties.

It was remarkable that, for all the pressure against them, Greenock were still in with a chance, however remote, of snatching a late equaliser.

But that hope was finally snuffed out when Cumbernauld’s Carroll headed home in stoppage time to give a more accurate reflection of their dominance in this match.

Greenock boss Campbell admitted he had planned to bring Williams off before the player got himself sent off.

He said: “I could see where it was going with Alan, but it was too late. I have spoken to him, because that is something that has got to change. Cumbernauld were very strong today, but I had told the team to expect that.

“However we still struggled with their pace and strength, and that has to be the poorest we have played for some time.” Greenock: Monk, Murray (Downie 81), T. Docherty, Williams, McGarrigle, Stanton, Orr, Craig (Jamieson (71), A. Docherty (Brown 75), McGowan, McKay. Subs not used: Doherty, McWilliams.

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