Greenock Juniors Football Club

Saturday 27th November 2004 @ Ravenscraig Stadium

Greenock Juniors 4 - 3 East Kilbride Thistle

League

Match Sponsor: The Willow Bar

This game can definately be described as a game of two halves. The first half saw Greenock concede 3 goals due to defensive lapses and miss a few at the the other end as well. The Match went ahead despite the very heavy Pitch and the heavy rain. The opener arrived as early as the 4th minute when McAllister upended East Kilbrides Brownlie and Brogan Slotted his penalty low to Stark's right. Greenock then went on the offensive and a good run by black saw him reach the byline and cut back for Dow but his effort was wide of teh upright. Greenock created more chances and McIntyre found himself one on one with the Keeper the keeper pulled of a good save to send his chipped effort wide of the post. Against the run of play East Kilbride Doubled there lead when a pass back from McMillan stuck in one of the may puddles on the pitch and Brogan nipped in before Stark rounded the keeper and rolled it home. Greenock again went on the offensive and got themselves back into the game when Lappin found Barnes and his forward run into the box was halted by Mitchell's challenge. John Paul Dow stepped up and slid the penalty under the body of McDonald in the East Kilbride goal. Greenock looked hte more dangerous but it was East Kilbride who were next to strike and regain a 2 goal advantage. A ball floated into the area found Brogan and he was bundled by Stark and once again the referee pointed to the spot. This time Fay stepped up to knock home East Kilbride's third 5 minutes before half time.

Half-time 1 - 3

With conditons both overhead and underfoot worsening Greenock went right at East Kilbride from the outset of the half and it only took 5 minutes for them to pull one back. Mcintyre done well to force Watson into a clumsly challenge as he headed towards the corner flag and the referee correctly pointed to the spot. Dow once again stepped up and rolled the ball confidently into McDonalds bottom right. Greenock kept the pressure on the East Kilbride rearguard and were rewarded with 20 minutes remaining when McAllister floated the ball into Mcintyre in the box he turned his marker Sweeney who clipped him leaving the referee no choice but to point to the spot for Greenock's 3rd and the 5th penalty of the game overall. Dow again took the responsibility and this time sent the keeper the wrong way with an effort into his left. East Kilbride were not threatening the Greenock goal at all as the home side pushed to try and get the winner. A long ball over the top sent Monaghan clear with Dow screaming for it in the middle he went alone, but Mcdonald got down well to knock his effort onto the post and then cleared by his defence. After winning 2 of the spot kicks it was turn of McIntyre to get his name on the scoresheet. After picking the ball up 30 yards out McIntyre struck a thunderous shot that found the bottom of right hand corner of McDonalds goal with the aid of a slight deflection. Eastkilbride then started throwing bodies forward but never really threatened the Greenock goal with probably there only effort of the 2nd half being tipped wide by keeper Stark. Greenock could have increased there lead when a Lappin effort was tipped over . The match ended with Greenock taking a well deserved and required 3 points and set them up nicely for next weeks trip through to Oakley in the Scottish cup 3rd round

Teamlines: Greenock Juniors:

Stark, McAllister, McMillan, Docherty, Black (Robertson 80), Power, Lappin, Barnes, McIntyre (Jack 75), Dow (McIlvogue 82), Monaghan East Kilbride Thistle:

McDonald, Maider (S Lappin 74), P Watson, Mitchell, Moffat, Conway, Sweeney (Penman 64), Brogan, Brownlie (Strain 55), Fay, Kelly

Goals: Greenock Juniors: John Paul Dow 19,50,70 (3p) Aldo McIntyre 74. East Kilbride Thistle: Brogan 4, 17 (1 pen), Fay (pen)