THE final scoreline belies the fact that Greenock gave a very good account of themselves against league leaders Pollok in what was anything but a one-sided affair.

As expected in front of their home crowd, the Glasgow club opened on the attack and took the lead after just five minutes.

Greenock keeper Ryan McWilliams did well to save a narrow angled shot from Allan McKenzie, but unfortunately the ball fell to Pollok’s Kevin Bradley, who tapped home from four yards out.

But over the next half-hour the expected home onslaught didn’t materialise, as Greenock got themselves more and more into the game.

However, just as they looked to be gaining the upper hand there was yet more red card woe for the Ravenscraig men on 36 minutes.

Martin McGowan received a heavy knock on the ankle, but to what seemed like both sides’ surprise, the referee red carded the Greenock player.

Greenock started the second half as they did the first, on top.

On 55 minutes Craig Brown, who was having an excellent game, broke through one-on-one with home keeper Jordan Longmuir, who got his finger tips to Brown’s chip, which then went past for a corner.

Then just after the 70 minute mark, Brown again broke clear but was yet again thwarted by another fine save from Longmuir.

As Greenock threw more and more men forward in search of the equaliser, they were caught with the sucker punch of the second goal, when a ball into the box found Bradley, who slammed home from 10 yards for his second goal of the match.

With eight minutes remaining Jamie McKenna, surprisingly reinstated to the Greenock side after the recent announcement of his departure, had a shot well saved.

And in the dying seconds John Sweeney netted Pollok’s third. Like the first goal, it came from a break down the wing, and resulted with the ball landing at the feet of Sweeney to fire home.

Greenock manager Martin Campbell, pictured below, said: ‘’We played well and gave Pollok a bit of a fright, as it wasn’t until late on in the game that they secured their win. Before then Craig Brown had two great chances to get us right back into the match. Craig was immense today, but although the Pollok keeper did well, Craig will admit that on most other days he would have taken those opportunities.’’ GREENOCK: McWilliams, T. Docherty, Begley, Murray (Trialist 72), Doherty, Orr, Craig, M. Dow (McKenna 38), Jamieson, McGowan, Brown (Trialist 85). Subs not used: Monk, JP Dow.

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