Saturday 04th September 2004 @ Ravenscraig Stadium
Greenock Juniors 1 - 0 Benburb
League
Gordon Lappin Greenock's scorer
Greenock picked up their first three points of the season after a one nil victory over one of this years promotion favourites Benburb. Greenock could easliy of had this game wrapped up before half-time but poor finishing by Black and Lappin ensured the score line remained blank. Right from the word go Greenock had 'the Ben's' pinned back in their 18 yard box as Black feed Jack on the right but his poor cross missed everyone in the box and ran out of play. This early pressure by Greenock was only a sign of things to come as they without a doubt, played their best match of the season so far. A great cross on the left by Greenock's Power was to high for Black and Davidson was on hand to head out for a corner, from the resulting corner Dow picked out Gault on the edge of the box but his half volley just sails wide of Watson's right hand post. Lappin then missed a great chance after beating the off-side trap but Watson was well positioned to save his volley. Black then somehow blasted over the bar from 3 yards after Dow's cutback. And so it remained scoreless at half-time.
Half-time 0 - 0
Greenock applied more pressure early in the second half and on the hour mark where rewarded a dubious penalty as the referee pointed to the spot after spotting Davidson pulling Dow's jersey, this angered Benburbs coach who was sent off after using foul and abusive lanuage towards the match official. Up stepped Gordon Lappin to cooly sent Watson 'the wrong way' to give Greenock a well deserved lead. The referee then booked Lappin for diving then wrongly booked McIlvogue for time wasting. McIlvogue broke forward but his shot sailed well clear off Watson's upright. On came Monaghan for Jack and Barnes for the injured Lappin. Mark Monk in the Greenock goal was having another fine game with his precise kicking and confident handling. With time running out the Ben's pushed all their big guns forward in search of an equailser but found McAllister and McMillan in fine form at the back clearing all danger.
Teamlines:
Greenock Juniors: Monk, McAllister, McMillan, McIlvogue, Jack (Monaghan 70), Gault, Power, Docherty, Lappin (Barnes 75), Dow (McIntyre 80), Black
Benburb: Watson, Canning, Martin (Noble 70), Davidson, Sheridan, Thomson, Davis, Hume, O'Neil (Morrison 80), McCall, McMillan.
Goals: Greenock Juniors: Gordon Lappin 60 (Pen)
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