Wednesday 18th May 2005 @ Ravenscraig Stadium
Greenock Juniors 1-3 Rutherglen Glencairn
League Match
Greenock Scorer Monaghan got his 15 of the season
It looked like one game to many for a very tired looking Greenock side who lost their first game in 6 league meetings. The first half of this match was a bit of a non event with neither keeper being tested on a wet and windy night at Ravenscraig. Greenock were forced into an early substitution when Scott Foreman had to be replaced by Derek Wilson due to an ankle injury. Rutherglen were the livelier of the sides as they fought for the 3 points they required to give themselves any hope of surviving this relegation battle.
Half-time 0 - 0
Greenock could not get going in this game at all started the second half minus another defender as Pat Mcilvogue had to be replaced by trialist Donnaghue with Martin Power dropping back into the defence. It took till the 70th minute of this game before the equaliser arrived and it was the visitors who produced the goods when a Joe Hayes shot was deflected into the net by his team mate Tom McLaughlin wrong footing Greenock keeper Meechan. Andy Monaghan entered the match as a substitute for the injured Black and made an immeadiate impact by grabbing the equaliser. A long ball forward saw a Rutherglen defender slip. Andy Monaghan didn't hang about and lobbed his effort beyond Rutherglen keeper Rodgers for the equaliser. In the final 10 minutes of the game the visitors threw caution to the wind going for the victory that they so needed and were duly rewarded. With 6 minutes remaining on the clock they regained the lead when Joe Hayes managed managed to get on the end of a knock down from the back post and squeeze his effort through the legs of both Power and keeper Meechan to the delight of the travelling support. Greenock pumped balls forward in vain to try and get back in the match but Rutherglen coped easily with anything thrown at them. With the match in injury time and Greenock over committed in attack rutherglen made sure of the points when Mark McKay was released by danger man Hayes and made no mistake in powering beyond Meechan. Greenock now require 4 points from the remaining 3 games, away to Carluke and Benburb and a home tie against St Ants while Rutherglen play the waiting game.
Full-time 1 - 3
Teamlines:
Greenock Juniors: Meechan, Mcilvogue (Trialist),Foreman(Wilson), Docherty, Gault, Robertson, Power, Lappin, McIntyre, Dow, Black(Monaghan)
Rutherglen: PoRogers, Finnigan, Smith, Gentles, Macaninch, Hayes, McShane, McLaughlin, Paul Quinn, McDowall (Rennie), MacKay.
Goals: Greenock Juniors: Monaghan 75
Rutherglen: McLauglin 70 , Hayes 84 , McKay 92
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