Greenock Juniors 2-1 Cambuslang Rangers

Stagecoach Central 2^nd Division

Saturday 8^th September 2007

at Ravenscraig Stadium

Cambuslang Rangers suffered a defeat at the hands of Greenock at the weekend despite the home side playing the majority of the match with 10 men. This was a Jeckyl and Hyde performance from the Somervell Park side. The first 10 - 15 minutes they were excellent but as soon as Greenock lost a man Cambuslang lost the place.

Some of the chances in the opening part of the game should have been converted and the game would have been over there and then but Cambuslang spurned a lot of them and Greenock worked had for each other and collected the 3 points.

Cambuslang were missing Doak, Bishop and Ogilvie for various reasons.

Ferguson (out of shot) Nods Lang In Front	Hughes Sticks In A Tackle

Cambuslang started the game superbly and chances were coming thick and fast for the visitors but a bad day in front of gaol let them down badly. As early as the 5th minute and Lang should have opened the scoring. Brown beat the offside trap and with only the keeper to beat he shot tamely wide of the target. Smith had a half chance a minute later but he fired over from the edge of the box. Cambuslang were awarded a free kick right on the edge of the box after Smith was pulled back by the last Greenock defender but the ref only yellow carded the culprit. From the free kick Cambuslang opened the scoring. Ferguson got on the end of the cross and headed back across goal into the far corner of the net to put Lang 1 up.

The home side were rocked when they were reduced to 10 men on 25 minutes. Ganes picked up 2 quick bookings and the ref had no option than to send the offender off. As he flashed the red card the defender then barged the ref to the ground and then had to be ushered from the field.

Normal play resumed and Lang had another glorious chance and again Brown missed the opportunity but his effort was well saved by the Greenock keeper. The home side drew level after some slack defending. Dow was allowed to stroll forward and he cracked a shot off the post and it fell kindly for Gilmour who tapped home from 3 yards. Cambuslang were struggling to string 2 passes together and fell out of the game allowing Greenock to come forward at will. Cambuslang should have got their noses back in front just before the interval but Carson's header was straight down the keeper’s throat and he gathered easily.

H-T 1-1

Very little changed for Cambuslang in the 2nd half and they just didn't seem to get going and Greenock took full advantage, there were times when you thought it was Cambuslang who were down to 10 men!!.

With only a minute of the 2nd had gone Fraser picked up a pass back and a free kick was awarded 8 yards out. Cambuslang did well to clear as the shot was blocked on the line. Another let off for the visitors. Cambuslang fell behind after McLaughlin fired home from 25 yards out. It was a goal that should never have stood as the player clearly controlled the ball with his hand and everyone stopped waiting for the whistle that never came and McLaughlin fired home the shot as Fraser stood and watched.

In a vain attempt to stem the flow towards Lang goal, Manager Alan Wardlaw made 2 changes Carson and O'Connor were replaced with Moore and Murphy. Personnel maybe changed but the pattern of play remained the same as Lang huffed and puffed with no end result.

Brannigan Keeps A Close Eye On Dow	Quiet Day For Broonie and Smith

Lang's Garry Lynch let his frustration get the better of him and he was yellow carded for his troubles. Greenock from the minute they went a man down were killing time at every opportunity and being allowed to do so by the man in the middle. They seen out the clock and collected a good 3 points for themselves. Cambuslang need to re-group and bounce back from this set back as there will be many more games like that this year. No time to feel sorry for themselves get the sleeves rolled up and begin to work hard.

F-T 2-1

Lang Line Up		For More Shots From The Game
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17	Fraser Brannigan Lynch Kavanagh Ferguson Hughes Carson (Murphy 57) O’Connor (Moore 57) Brown Smith (Cairns 88) Devine Barton Drew	Click Here