Published: Monday, 8th February, 2010 2:00pm

Joe's dream return

RAVENSCRAIG ACTION: Roland Fabiani wins the ball in the air for Greenock. Picture: Kris Cairns

GREENOCK 1 YOKER 0

JOE GILMOUR capped a dream return to Greenock on Saturday, with the only goal of a tense match at Ravenscraig.

Work commitments had kept the striker out of the team since the start of the season, but he returned in style, scoring the only goal of the game with a looping header early in the second half.

However, Gilmour was denied the pleasure of seeing the ball beat Yoker keeper Ross Clark.

He revealed: "I just saw the ball going up in the air, and thought 'I am going to go for this'. But I didn't see it hit the back of the net as my nose clattered off the back of a defender's head and I thought it had burst open. Fortunately it hadn't, but when I heard the roar I knew the ball had gone in."

After such a long absence, Gilmour admitted he was shocked to be named in the starting eleven.

He added: "I have been able to attend training a bit more recently, but didn't expect to even get a strip today. So I was surprised when the manager said I was starting. It was one of those games where one goal was going to decide it, and I am delighted that I got it."

Truth be told, Greenock will probably play better than this and lose this season. Yoker dominated the first half but failed to capitalise on their pressure. They even squandered a chance to level the score late on when they were given a dubious penalty with just ten minutes of the match remaining, but Mark McManus skied the ball well over the bar.

But the home side deserve praise for a backs to the wall performance to keep Yoker at bay, and although often unsupported due to the pressure on the Greenock defence and midfield, Kenny McKay and Gilmour did a sterling job up front. Indeed, the irrepressible McKay even had the energy to chase what looked like a lost cause near the end to set up David McClure, but the sub missed the chance to put the issue beyond doubt just before the match entered six long minutes of stoppage time.

Manager Stevie Mooney was delighted with the win, after eight frustrating weeks of postponements.

He said: "We did allright considering we haven't played for such a long time. We rode our luck a bit and got the breaks, but we were due that because it has happened to us the other way so many times. I am pleased for Joe, who has worked hard in training over the last few weeks to get himself into shape, and got his reward. But all credit to the whole team, they gave their all today."

Having started the match in third place in the league table, and after this win against the side immediately above them, Greenock actually dropped a place to fourth, such is the tightness of this league. Benburb have sneaked above them on goal difference, after thumping Forth Wanderers 5-1.

Greenock: Monk, Irvine, McCormick, B McLaughlin, Fabiani, T Docherty, MacDonald, Kearns, Gilmour (McClure 74), McKay (Crawford 89), MacLennan (Gunn 84). Subs not used: McWilliams, J McLaughlin, Cushnaghan, Tucker.

● Greenock Juniors are sponsored by Kingsley Wood Solicitors and Notaries, and the Lighthouse Bar.