Wednesday 27th April 2005 @ Glenhead Park, Duntocher
Clydebank 2-1 Greenock Juniors
League Match
Greenock goalscorer Andy Monaghan
Greenock travelled to Glenhead Park to face a Clydebank side looking to get their promotion charge back on track after Saturday's defeat at home to East Kilbride. Greenock were not there just to make the numbers up and took the lead after only 4 minutes when Andy Monaghan latched onto a through ball and done well to finish high into Clydebank keeper McNab's right hand corner. Clydebank with their boisterous home support were not going to sit back and began to apply some pressure to the home defence of Mcilvogue, Docherty and McAllister. Despite having Greenock pinned back for the first half hour of the game, the home side failed to test Meechan in the Greenock goal to any great extent. Greenock were looking dangerous on the break and top scorer Monaghan was causing some problems for the home rearguard with his pace and power. Monaghan almost doubled his tally just after the half hour mark when he collected the ball 25 yards from goal and sent in a dipping volley that McNab was happy to see go the wrong side of the bar. Greenock defence was being worked extremely hard by Clydebanks diminutive strike force of Maxwell and Tolland by not given them a minutes peace. Maxwell had a good opportunity to test Meechan when he got on the end of a knock down but his effort from the edge of the area was sclaffed wide and Greenock went in at half time a goal up.
Half-time 1 - 0
upThe second followed in much the same vain as the first with Clydebank playing a high tempo game to try and get the equaliser. Things swung Clydebanks way when lively substitute Des Kelly entered the frey.The goal came just after the hour mark when Clydebank worked the ball well down the left flank to Kelly. He turned McAllister before wipping in an inch perfect cross that was met perfectly by the head of the impressive Clinton Maxwell, leaving Meechan with no chance. The volume rose at Glenhead park as the 250 plus Clydebank Supporters celebrated. Greenock had a few efforts of there own with Gault, Monaghan and McIntyre all trying there luck from distance. John Paul created a chance for himself when he worked some room at the edge of the Clydebank area but his left foot effort was well saved by McNab in the Clydebank goal. The turning point in this game came in the in the 76th minute. A dangerous deep cross was floated into the back post beyond Meechan and with a mellie of players coming in no-one managed to get the touch in to force it over the line and it rolled harmlessly wide. To the shock of the Greenock contingent and delight of Clydebank's large support the referee for some reason or another pointed to the spot when not one of the Clydebank players or supporters claimed. Referee John McInlay inexplicably deemed Aldo Mcintyre to have fouled Clydebank striker Maxwell denying a clear goal scoring opportunity and made matters worse by showing McIntyre a red card to further punish the Greenock side. After several minutes of protests Clydebank defender Brian Harkins calmly slotted his penalty into Meechan's left hand corner to a great cheer from the home support. Greenock tried there best to get back into this game but it was Clydebank who almost increased their lead when Des Kelly broke down the left once again and sent a blistering shot towards Meechans top left hand corner only to see the experienced keeper produce a wonder save to keep Greenock in the hunt. Greenock frustrations became worse with 10 minutes remaining when Black done well to get back and dispossess Kelly on the left wing. With Black looking for the sharp break away he was unceremoniously halted when Kelly took a swipe from behind to floor the Greenock winger. Greenock were upset enough over the penalty situation and when Kelly was only shown a yellow instead of the deserved red some of the Greenock players were incensed and Mcilvogue made his way into the referee's book. Thomas Docherty was next when he got booked for a mistimed challenge on the halfway line. Despite pushing men forward Greenock could not find the equaliser the so needed and now look to next weeks matches away to Rutherglen and Yoker where points will need to be picked up.
Teamlines:
Greenock Juniors: Meechan, McAllister(Robertson 68), Mcilvogue, Docherty, Gault(Black 74) , Foreman(Bowie 90), Power, Lappin, McIntyre, Dow, Monaghan
Clydebank: Scott McNab; John Mitchell; Sean Brady; Brian Harkins; Sinclair Soutar; Ryan Waddell (Graeme Dempsey 78); Mark Hailstones; Gary Esdale; Clinton Maxwell; Michael Tolland (Ryan Scobie 68); David Fisher (Des Kelly 57).
Goals: Greenock Juniors: Monaghan 4
Clydebank: Maxwell 62, Harkins (pen 77)
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