Greenock Juniors: Newmains is perfect chance to bounce back

They travel to South Lanarkshire to play Newmains United in the third round of the South Challenge Cup.

At first glance it seems like a very winnable game for 'Nock as Newmains sit in mid table a division below the Ravenscraig side, with four wins and four losses in their eight games. 

In recent games, particularly against Glenvale and Kilsyth, Greenock have been their own worst enemies in the sense of being wasteful with the ball and not playing to the strengths of the group.

There was an improvement against Darvel, where they played some good football against a very technical team, and whilst the score flattered the Premiership side, they were just that little bit more clinical than Greenock over the course of the game.

That recovery of form will be necessary to ensure progression on Saturday against a team who will fancy their chances. It will be important for Greenock to dominate possession early on, which they are well capable of doing and simultaneously avoid being dragged into a scrap; often a leveller in cup-ties.

They will also hope that the pitch will be in rather better condition than their last visit to Victoria Park, several seasons ago.

The surface was soft in parts and rutted in others. Despite that, it was a combination of heroic goalkeeping by the Newmains number one and Greenock having a day when they couldn’t buy a goal that resulted in a single goal defeat.

The squad is more depleted, now than at any point this season. In defence Scott Paterson is missing with a rib injury and Cammy McPhee is unavailable due to work commitments. James Marks is cup-tied.

Greenock Juniors head for Lanarkshire on Saturday to take on Newmains United. (Image: alex craig) Jack Graham and Ryan Corr are both still in recovery from mid-term injuries, whilst Lee Wilson is on holiday. In a bit of relief, Darren Patton is available, having last week become the proud father of a baby boy.

And manager Gary Fleming feels that there were positives to be taken out of last week that will impact on tomorrow’s game as he looks to bounce back against the Lanarkshire side.

“We’re all looking forward to the cup tie tomorrow," he said. 

"We have a massive incentive to win the game because we will get through to the last 32 of a tournament that started with 163 teams.

"We have looked at last Saturday’s game and taken the positives. We’ll build on that going into this game and going forward.

"I told the players we found our identity and style of play for long periods against top opposition last week and we must now replicate that form against more like for like match-ups.

"We do have some squad availability issues particularly in defence. However it is indicative of our strength in depth this year that in Boyle, Woods Toner and McCormick we have real quality to choose from”

Greenock Juniors FC 100 Club winners for September were; 1st, - Number 10 2nd, - Number 38 3rd, - 77

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