Saturday 11th September 2004 @ McKenna Park
St. Anthonys 1 - 2 Greenock Juniors
League
Action from Saturday's encounter with St Anthonys (Black, Lappin & Jack pictured.)
Greenock Juniors can count theirselves lucky to be leaving McKenna Park with full points after a dismal performance against the nine men of St.Anthonys.
With the windy conditions playing havoc to both teams it was the home side who settled into the match the better of the two. The Ants had the Greenock defence on the back foot but to often did their final pass let them down. Greenock's Docherty had the first real chance of the match but his glancing header sailed past Turner's post. Lappin then fires over the bar in 15 minutes after some nice work down the left wing by Black. St Anthonys Elliot fires a cross into the box only to see Deenie blast over. From a corner Deenie somehow manages to blast over the bar from 10 yards when it looked easier to score. The first talking point of the match arrived midway through the first half as St Anthonys Ford is sent for an early bath after picking up his second caution of the match for an 'over the top' tackle on McIntyre. Greenock now with the extra man advantage start to up the pace but can't seem to find away through 'the Ants' stubborn rearguard. Docherty then squanders two chances before half-time the first pulling out a fine save from Turner after a neat pass by Dow then after finding himself one on one with the keeper manages to lift the ball over the bar.
Half-time 0 - 0
Early in the second half Greenock's McIlvogue found himself in a shooting position but his effort is to close to the keeper. McMillan then recieves a nasty cut above his eye after being caught by Pugh's elbow. Against the run of play St. Anthonys race into a goal lead, Substitute Ferris turns McIlvogue before crossing low to the back post and with the Greenock defence claiming for off-side Paul Deenie slots the ball into an empty net, However from over celebrating Joe Mulheron then picks up his 2nd caution of the macth to leave his team mates to battle on for the last 25 minutes with nine men. Greenock throw on Monaghan as they chase the equaliser. Stewart Jack races to the bye line but his cut back is over hit and Black's effort is cleared by Mulligan. Greenock make another two substitutes with Bowie and Robertson entering the fray for Lappin and Jack. With time now against Greenock and 'The Ants' looking as though they are going to hold on for thier first points of the season up steps Andy Monaghan to pick his spot past Turner from 18 yards. Turner then pulls off the save of the match as McAllister's thunderbolt looks set for the top corner but Turner had other idea's palming it over the bar for a corner. Greenock did get the winner with two minutes remaining and it was the unlucky James Lennox who scored in his own net from Black's cutback. Black should have made it three in the final minute but after skipping past two defenders his left foot shot goes wide.
Teamlines:
St. Anthonys: Turner, Lennox, Mulligan, Elliot, Jordan, Pugh, McCuish, Ford, Deenie, Mulheron, Gold (Ferris 65).
Greenock Juniors: Monk, McAllister, McMillan, McIlvogue, Jack (Robertson 78), Gault, McIntyre, Docherty, Lappin (Bowie 83), Dow (Monaghan 70), Black.
Goals: St. Anthonys: Paul Deenie 68. Greenock Juniors: Andy Monaghan 85. James Lennox 88 (og).
John Robertson teeing up a cross into 'the Ants' penalty area. Greenock goalscorer Monaghan trying to shake off St Ants Jordan.
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