GREENOCK Juniors let a late lead slip at home to Girvan on Saturday as Euan Smith grabbed a deserved point from a 2-2 draw at Ravenscraig.
The result sees Nock fall eight points behind leaders Thorn Athletic at the top of the Third Division - while Gary Fleming's men are now just four ahead of third-placed Ardeer.
The four goals that the game produced punctuated a rather dreary encounter, which certainly from Greenock’s perspective never quite got going.
Greenock thought they had sealed the win when Innes Lambert scored with only five minutes plus stoppage time remaining. but Girvan put a spanner in the works with a late and deserved equaliser, Smith's second of the afternoon.
The Nock started the game quite well and for an initial 10 minutes or so it seemed that the return to form exhibited in the last two games would be maintained.
Greenock took the lead twice at home to Girvan - but each time they were unable to hold on to their advantage. (Image: alex craig) Unfortunately the game quickly descended into a rather frantic, rushed pattern of play and stayed that way for most of the rest of the afternoon.
Girvan, as expected, proved lively, hard-working and difficult opposition; however, had Greenock allowed the quality they possess to shine through, they might have made things a lot easier for themselves.
The Nock had the first of very few clear cut chances on five minutes; an Alan Frizzell cross found Cammy Barclay unmarked in the Girvan box, but the midfielder’s shot was turned away rather flashily for a corner by Mark Thomson in the visitor’s goal.
There was a wait of 27 minutes before the next goalmouth incident; Girvan's Jamal Bawan was set free on the Greenock left, but having advanced into the penalty box his shot was parried down by Craig Beaton and hooked clear.
On 37 minutes a Ryan Sinnamon free-kick zipped tantalisingly across the Girvan six-yard box, evading both defenders and attackers.
Greenock opened the scoring on 44 minutes with one of the few moments of quality in the match.
Frizzell picked up a loose ball in midfield and, with a delicate outside-of-the-foot pass, sent Tai Beckley homing in on goal, and having seen off the chasing Dylan Fraser, the Greenock striker neatly beat Thomson with a near post finish from just inside the six-yard box.
It was a frustrating afternoon for the Greenock faithful on Saturday as visitors Girvan hit back twice to claim a share of the spoils. (Image: alex craig) Having gone in at half-time with the lead, the Nock would have been looking to settle down and consolidate their advantage.
But Girvan had other ideas: within a minute of the second half Jay Woods was forced to clear off the Greenock goal-line and then an innocuous ball knocked forward by the visitors eluded the Nock defence and allowed Smith to race in on goal and equalise.
Beckley almost restored the home side’s lead from the restart. Latching on to a long ball he drove into the left side of the penalty area and unleashed a drive that rattled the near side post.
Greenock thought they had secured the win in the 85th minute. Black lifted the ball over the visitors’ defence, putting James Marks one-on-one with Thomson. The keeper made a brave save which rebounded to Lambert on the edge of the box, who calmly placed the ball into the net.
But the Nock’s relief at retaking the lead was very short lived.
Gary Fleming was a disappointed man after watching Greenock drop two points at home to Girvan. (Image: alex craig) Girvan were awarded a free kick about five metres out from the right hand side of Greenock’s penalty box; it also spelled the end of Declan McCormick’s afternoon as he was harshly, in most observers’ eyes, given a second yellow card for what seemed an accidental coming together.
Smith took full advantage of the opportunity, notching his second goal of the game with a very well executed free kick. Neither side looked like scoring a last minute winner, with the game ending honours even.
Greenock’s performance had some of the hallmarks of a team trying too hard. If they reflect on their best performances of the season, one of which was against next week's opponents Threave Rovers, the intensity of effort has been matched by the quality of football that is a product of relaxed thought.
It can be a difficult balance to achieve, however it is one that Greenock have demonstrated on a number of occasions this season.
Greenock: Beaton; Woods (Marks 73mins), McCormick, Boyle; Graham (Cunningham 51mins); Brown, Barclay (Canavan 73mins), Docherty (Black 63 mins), Sinnamon; Beckley (Beckley 61mins), Frizzell (Lambert 73mins).
Subs not used, Hunter, McPhee.
Greenock are sponsored by Saveheat, Keystore Cowal View, Safer Group, The Lighthouse Bar, McGills, ARC and Blairs.
