Saturday 05th February 2004 @ Ravenscraig Stadium
Greenock Juniors 1-2 Vale of Clyde
League Match
Action from the match
Greenock played there first league game since November on a heavy Ravenscraig pitch against high fliers Vale of Clyde. The 2nd meeting of these sides this season brought another victory for the Vale but Greenock will be really disappointd not to take anything from this game they dominated. Vale opened the scoring early on when some neat play on there left hand side presented the Vale number 10 plenty of space at the edge, and he didn't hesitate in striding to the edge of the area and dispatching his effort high into Kenny Meechan's top left hand corner. This kicked Greenock into action and they began to control possesion without causing the Vale keeper any real problems. Several chances fell Greenock's way mostly falling to Aldo McIntyre who got on the end of a couple of well delivered Stewart Jack corners but the closest he got was a header which grazed the outside of the post. Greenock levelled the game 30 minutes in when another set piece was delivered from the right and Vale failed to clear there lines. John Paul Dow knocked the ball back across goal and Gordon Lappin managed to prod the ball to Stewart Jack in space and he placed his effort below the Vale keeper for his first goal of the season. Greenock could have taken the lead shortly after when Andy Monaghan found John Paul Dow in space in the box but his effort was staright down the throat of the Vale Keeper.
Half-time 1 - 1
Greenock began the second half in similar fashion to the first when they conceded early on. The Greenock defence were caught sqaure appealing for offside, when a long ball through the middle found substitute Danny taylor and he stayed composed to slot his effort into Meechan's bottom left hand corner. From here on in Greenock dominated possesion in this game but as in the first did not take the chances that fell there way. John Paul Dow won possesion at then edge of the Vale box and fed McIntyre on the left but he could not keep his shot down. Mcintyre then got on the end of another Jack corner and this time his header went inches wide of the keepers right hand upright. Mark Bowie also found himself with a good opportunity but his powerful effort was well parried by the keeper. Greenock were throwing everything at the visitors but just couldn't find a way through. Vale were reduced to 10 men with 20 minutes remaining and shortly after down to 9 as they tried to close out the game. Substitute Graham Black found space in the box to get off a shot but his effort came crashing back off the bar and away to safety. Despite all the possession Greenock could not find the eqauliser and the visitors held on for a victory that sends them to the top of the table and puts Greenock into 3rd bottom. Despite having alot of games in hand Greenock will need to start picking up points or they could be dragged into the dogfight at the bottom.
Teamlines:
Greenock Juniors: Meechan, McAllister, McMillan, Docherty, Monaghan(Black), McIntyre, Power, Lappin, Jack, Dow, Bowie
Vale of Clyde: ??
Goals: Greenock Juniors: Stewart Jack
Vale of Clyde: ??, Danny Taylor
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