YFS
A last minute winner from Ciaran Gavin earned Port Glasgow all three points at Motherwell in a Cumbernauld and Kilsyth Division B bout that went right to the wire.
Port Glasgow had the first chance of the match within a minute when Josh Lafferty burst down the left wing and whipped in a cross to Ryan Phillips whose shot glanced past the face of the goal.
The visitors had another effort when they won a free kick on the right side. Reuben Ballingall swung in the cross which was half cleared and his rebounded strike was routinely saved by Jay Elliot in the Motherwell goal.
Motherwell had their first significant opportunity when Steven Reilly picked up possession outside the box, lobbed the ball up for himself and attempted a looping kick which Port keeper Lewis Lafferty managed to get a hand to.
Josh Lafferty continued to cause problems for Motherwell during the early exchanges as he marauded down the left flank unchallenged. He laid the ball on to Josh McAuslan on the corner of the box who blazed the ball over the bar as the away side turned the screw.
Port Glasgow were dominating proceedings, pressing higher up the pitch and holding a larger portion of the early chances on goal. Port could have taken the lead when a long kick out from Lewis Lafferty evaded the whole midfield and latched on to Josh Lafferty in a dangerous position. The striker got his shot off early encouraging a smart save from the Motherwell stopper.
Motherwell had resorted to shooting from distance when in possession at this stage and Jordan Wilson tested the goal from 25 yards out but the attack was well matched by Lewis Lafferty.
Josh Lafferty found himself one on one with the keeper when he ran on to a neat flick on but his attempt was parried away by Elliot. There was an almost identical opportunity moments later when the attacker lashed an attempt on goal but Elliot got down low and stretched to save with a strong right glove.
Port Glasgow kept knocking on the door without any success which was testament to the performance of Elliot in goals who was proving equal to any problem the visitors could muster. Port were enjoying a lot of possession in the final third but couldn't capitalise. To their credit, Motherwell were being street wise in defence by not taking any chances and evading the danger by clearing their lines nice and early.
Ballingall burst through the middle of the pitch but his early stab from outside the box was dealt with again by Elliot. Motherwell had the chance to put themselves in front from a corner when the ball landed to Blair White but he scooped the ball over the bar from close range.
The home side would take their chance soon after on the 40th minute when a searching clearance up the park found Matthew Cummings in the counter attack who laid it onto Andrew Wilson to his right. Wilson dashed into the box unchallenged and calmly passed it into the back of the net by the stranded goalkeeper.
Port Glasgow reacted immediately as Josh Brolly got on the end of a corner and his low drive had every right to burst the back of the net before it was met by the outstretched foot of Elliot who saved his side again.
The ref blew to signal the end of a first half where Port Glasgow had dominated possession but were unable to make the most of their chances. Motherwell had proven to be clinical when it mattered as well as resolute at the back and they took a well earned lead into the second period.