GREENOCK Juniors welcome Renfrewshire opposition to Ravenscraig on Saturday on matchday 3 of the WoSFL Third Division campaign.

The Johnstone-based team won promotion last year and are well respected for their approach to the game, and with one win and a draw in their opening matches, they are two points ahead of Greenock at this early stage of the season.

The Nock go into this match off the back of a second frustrating draw, this time away to Vale of Leven on Wednesday.

In the first half, playing with real dynamism and quality, they dominated the Vale; leading 1-0 after a neat Tai Beckley finish, they should have been home and hosed after spurning some glorious, almost unmissable chances.

And they paid the price when the home side equalised eight minutes into the second half, after Greenock gave away a very soft penalty.

It was a significant momentum changer and for the next 15 mins or so the Nock were on the ropes as Vale took their turn at playing some excellent football.

It was thanks in no small measure to the excellent Craig Beaton in Greenock’s goal that the score remained tied at 1-1.

With both teams making changes the game entered a third, old-fashioned 'junior football' phase. The last 20 minutes saw the teams going hammer and tongs for the win, with the ball ping-ponging between each goal and chances arising for both sides.

While there was a lack of quality, there was plenty of excitement and no little controversy; Vale and Greenock both had efforts disallowed with each team, unsurprisingly and correctly, convinced their 'goals' should have stood.

The Nock had the final opportunity to take the three points when Tai Beckley went through on goal in the final minute. Unfortunately, the striker’s shot was held by Currie in the Vale goal, leaving Greenock, as they were on the opening day against Glasgow University, scratching their collective heads as to how they failed to win.

Come the weekend Greenock will be facing a well organised, disciplined Thorn Athletic side who followed up their opening-day draw at Threave with a 1-0 win at home to Renfrewshire rivals Glenvale on Wednesday, and the Nock really need to address some key issues.

They cannot afford to be as profligate in front of goal as they have been in the opening two matches. It is not disrespectful to either Glasgow University or Vale of Leven to note that the Nock have dropped four points over these two games.

They also have to address the problem of losing control of matches for periods, which has happened in the latter two pre-season games and the two league matches.

]In close matches, control will ebb and flow that is understood, however in Greenock’s case this tendency seems to be more related to not maintaining their tactical discipline and ceding control rather than anything the opposition are doing.

It is well within the home side's capability to make these adjustments and start converting draws to wins.

Greenock Juniors v Thorn Athletic at Ravenscraig Stadium on Saturday kicks off at 2pm.

Greenock is sponsored by Saveheat, Keystore Cowal View, Safer Group, The Lighthouse Bar, McGills, ARC and Blairs.