Saturday 2nd April 2005 @ Holm Park, Yoker
Yoker 0-0 Greenock Juniors
(2-4 on pens)
West of Scotland Cup 3rd Round
Andy Monaghan puts away the decisive spot kick
Greenock travelled the short distance to Holm Park to face Yoker Athletic in this West of Scotland Cup 3rd round tie. As with the 2 previous ties in this years league cup section this game was a very close run affair with neither side giveing an inch. In a scrappy first half Yoker's best chance came when a bye kick was flicked on by Ferguson and his strike partner went one on one with Meechan in the Greenock goal but it was the keeper who won this battle as he saved low down to his left. Greenock should have taken the lead on the half hour mark when Graham Black was sent through one on one with the Yoker keeper. He sent a left footed lob goalwards only for it to come back of the bar to the waiting McIntyre. But with the goal empty McIntyre headed over from 6 yards out when it seemed easier to score. Greenock had a very strong claim for a penalty turned down when Dow turned his marker in the box only to be tripped but the referee who was only yards from the incident waved aside Greenocks appeals. The next chance again fell for Greenock when McIntyre was on the end of a Dow corner. His goalbound effort was cleared off the line to Docherty who crashed his effort against the keepers left hand upright and away to safety.
Half-time 0 - 0
The second half followed in much the same manner as the first with Greenock pressing the home defence but not causing Sean Graham in the Yoker goal to many problems. Foreman, McIntyre and Dow all had efforts on target frrom outside the area but were unable to find the net. Ross McMillan had a great chance to find the opener early on in the half when he was on the end of Dow's deep corner but he failed to keep his header down. At the other end Ferguson also had a headed chance for a set piece but his effort went wide of Meechan's left hand post. The fresh legs of Andy Monaghan caused the Yoker defence some problems with his pace and power and he set up the next chance for Greenock when he powered down the right hand channel and cut back for Mark Bowie but his he dragged his shot wide of the far upright. As the game progressed it looked a certainty that this match would be settled by the dreaded penalty shoot out and that proved to be the case.
Penalties:
Yoker Pen 1: Yoker took the intiative when the number 3 calmly slotted into Meechan's bottom right hand corner.
Greenock Pen 1: Martin Power was first up for Greenock and he gave the keeper No Chance as he blasted high into Graham's top right hand corner.
Yoker Pen 2: Yoker regained the lead when the diminutive midfielder sent his left footed effort into Meechans bottom left..
Greenock Pen 2: Gordon Lappin was next up for Greenock and levelled the score by sending his effort straight down the middle.
Yoker Pen 3: The big Centre half was next up. He tried a dummy in his run but Meechan read it and saved to his left.
Greenock Pen 3: Johnny Robertson was next up and gave Greenock the lead for the first time in the Shoot out by powering his effort into the keepers bottom right hand corner.
Yoker Pen 4: Meechan once again saved this time low to his right
Greenock Pen 4: Andy Monaghan was the man given the opportunity to win it for Greenock and he did not disappoint as he smashed his efort low to the keepers bottom right hand corner giving him no chance.
Greenock now have to travel through to Shotts Bon Accord for the 1/4 final tie to be played next Saturday the 9th of April.
Teamlines:
Greenock Juniors: Meechan, McAllister, McMillan, McIlvogue, Docherty, Lappin , Foreman, Power, Dow(Robertson), McIntyre(Monaghan), Black(Bowie)
Yoker: ??
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