Quickfire goal stuns Neilston
Published 10 May 2012 09:30
Share this
click to enlarge
STAYING UP: The Neilston players have battled well to enure that the club is not relegated to the second division
A GOAL in the first 30 seconds at Battery Park gave the home side victory on Monday night.
But it was always going to be a tough match for Robert Fox's side, with the manager forced to name only two subs due to work and injuries.
After the shock of going beind, Neilston started to create chances with Adams looking dangerous after being put through by Anson.
But the striker pulled his shot wide and 10 minutes later a header from Lennox produced a good save from the Greenock keeper.
The second-half began with the Farmer's Boys looking for the equaliser, but they just couldn't find the net as Murdoch went close with header from a corner-kick and Stevenson almost scored at the back post after a flick-on from a free-kick.
Although it was a dour affair, there was some drama in the closing 10 minutes of the game.
The referee was forced to stop proceedings for a few minutes after one of the Greenock subs was knocked out by the ball at the sidelines and eventually taken to hospital.
Team: Digney, Docherty, Campbell, Fraser, Murdoch, Lennox, Deeney, Stevenson, Anson, Adams, Allen. Subs not used:- Murphy, Wilson.
Dunipace.................................................................... 1
Neilston............................................................................. 0
NEILSTON suffered defeat away at Dunipace on Saturday, but manager Robert Fox did not have to endure the disappointing result.
The boss had taken the chance to go and look at another game, with assistant Andy Whiteford and coach David Wilson taking charge.
It was a scrappy game from start to finish and the only goal came after five minutes.
It was a bizarre winner, when a mishit corner was punched by Neilston keeper Digney onto the back of his own player and into the net. After the goal, the match was a battle for supremacy in midfield, with neither keeper having much to do.
Both sides competed equally and refused to give any quarter.
A shot from Anson which went just over the bar and a header from Lennox were Neilston's closest efforts in the first-half.
After the break Neilston took control, but they couldn't find the cutting edge in front of goal.
The away support almost had an equaliser to celebrate in the closing minutes, but Young's back post header went agonisingly wide.
Team: Digney, Docherty, Campbell, McDade, Murdoch, Lennox, Canning, Stevenson (Deeney), Anson, Cameron (Adams), Allen (Young).
Neilston............................................................................. 5
St Anthonys...................................................................... 2
NEILSTON confirmed their safety with a stunning win over St Anthony's last Wednesday night.
It was the home side that opened the scoring in the 14th minute when a free-kick from Canning was headed in by Lennox.
Midway through the half they were denied a stonewall penalty when Anson was pushed in the box, but the referee waved the claims away.
With first half closing Neilston were creating the better chances and might have been more up at half-time.
But it only took until the 50th minute for Neilston to increase their lead when a corner was forced into the net by Adams.
The Ants were given a chance 10 minutes later when Lennox handled in the box and they scored from the spot and a minute later they equalised.
Manager Robert Fox made his first sub with McGarvey coming on for Lennox and not long after it was 3-2 to Neilston when Christie scored into the top of the net from the edge of the box.
Neilston conituned to create more chances and with 10 minutes left, increased the lead when Anson scored after a mistake in the defence.
With two minutes left to play Neilston made it 5-2 when a long throw-in from Campbell found Canning who lobbed the keeper from a tight angle.
Team: Digney, McDade, Campbell, Fraser, Murdoch, Lennox (McGarvey), Christie, Davidson, Anson (Cameron), Adams, Canning.
Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our Sport archives.
