Saturday 30th October 2004 @ Ravenscraig Stadium
Greenock Juniors 2 - 3 Shettleston Juniors
League
Greenock lost 3-2 in this thrilling encounter with Shettleston in front of a strong crowd at Ravenscraig Stadium.
Both teams started at a frantic pace with Greenock applying some early pressure on their hosts and had John Robertson timed his run a bit better he could easliy have tucked away Alan Barnes teasing cross in the opening 3 minutes. Shettleston's responded with no.11 coming close from a deep cross on the right but his effort sailed over Monks bar from 6 yards. The opening goal arrived in 19 minutes as Dow's corner kick was perfectly met by Alan Barnes to head past Shettleston's keeper to give Greenock the lead. Greenock's Dow was giving Shettleston's no.4 a torrid time as things threatend to spiral out of control with Lappin earning a silly caution for dissent. Shettleston equalised on the half hour mark as McIlvogue's slip allowed no.9 to gun down on Monk's goal before cooly lobbing him from the edge of the box. Greenock thought they had taken the lead through Lappin's header as the ball crashed against the bar but the referee was well positioned to see that it didn't cross the line. Greenock did take the lead on the stroke of half-time through Andy Monaghan as he smashed the ball home from Robertson's corner.
Half-time 2 - 1
Shettleston's no.9 claimed his second goal of the game early in the second half, as the home defence screamed for offside the striker was allowed time and space at the back post to volley past the static Monk to square the game up at 2-2. Greenock's goalscorer Alan Barnes took a nasty fall and had to be replaced by recent signing Scott Foreman for his league debut. A terrific acrobatic effort by Shettleston's midfielder crashes against Monk's bar before being cleared to safety. Monaghan came close on the hour mark from Dow's step over but his effort sailed wide of the target. Greenock suffered another injury blow as Pat McIlvogue had to leave the field with a hamstring strain. Mark Monk pulled off a tremendous save to deny Shettleston as he saved a volley from no.6, however Shettleston scored what proved to be the winner with 15 minutes remaining after fine wing play by no.11 who squared for no.6 to squeeze the ball past Monk from 6 yards.
Teamlines: Greenock Juniors: Monk, McAllister, McIlvogue (Flynn 81), Docherty, Robertson, Power, Lappin, Barnes (Foreman 60), McIntyre, Dow (Jack 75), Monaghan Shettleston Juniors:
Goals: Greenock Juniors: Alan Barnes 19, Andy Monaghan 44. Shettleston Juniors:
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