Benburb reached the midway point in their league campaign at Tinto Park this afternoon by coming from a 2 goal deficit to snatch a 2-2 draw. Benburb were dealt a severe blow before kick-off as striker Tony O'Neill failed a fitness test. Also missing from the Benburb line-up were Stuart Robertson and David Nisbet.

Greenock almost shocked their hosts in the opening seconds of the game as Joe Ghattas was forced to make a save straight from the kick-off. Sadly for the Tinto Park men, the opening goal was only delayed by another minute. A STEPHEN MALONE snapshot from 12 yards beat Ghattas to give the visitors the lead. Benburb's makeshift defence were finding it difficult against a determined Greenock side. Benburb almost equalised in the 5th minute when a Mark Davis shot wide after good work from McGlinchey on the right wing. A minute later David Craig went close after being put through on Graham's goal. Only a fine stop from the Greenock keeper prevented the Bens leveller. Greenock went 2-0 ahead in the 18th minute when a long throw found JOE GILMOUR unmarked in the penalty area. The Greenock's striker's header gave Ghattas no chance in the Benburb goal.

Benburb pulled a goal back in the 36th minute when a TOMASZ LISINSKI header beat Graham after he had prevented Mark Davis with a point blank save from 6 yards.

Half-Time: Benburb 1 Greenock Juniors 2

Benburb restarted the game shooting down the slope and almost scored in the opening minute when a Lorn Gibson shot was parried by Graham. This set the pattern for the second half as Benburb would dominate the game with Shaun Graham, the Greenock keeper, making some fine saves. In the 56th minute Billy Ferguson shot over the bar from 6 yards after a David Craig knock down. The veteran Benburb striker went close 12 minutes when headed a MacMillan corner on to the bar. Four minutes later Ferguson went close again, this time seeing his header cleared off the line. Greenock raced up the park and only a fine save from Ghattas and goal line clearance from Scott Munro prevented Gilmour from adding a third.

Benburb thought they had eventually equalised in the 75th minute when once again Billy Ferguson had a header cleared off the line. It was now one-way traffic and only a fine one handed save from Graham prevented a Billy Ferguson shot from 20 yards.

The incessant pressure of the home side finally paid off in the 88th minute when David Craig headed back across goal a Bobby MacMillan free-kick only to find SHAUN FINAN unmarked. The young Bens player who filled in at right back headed home from 6 yards.

With Benburb looking to get the winner, physio Ian Callander was sent-off by referee Steven McFaulds for venting his frustration.

No one could deny that Benburb deserved to take something out of this game and with their fighting spirit, this side does not know when it is beaten.

Benburb: Ghattas, Finan, MacMillan, Munro, McInnes, Craig, Gibson, Davis, Lisinski, Ferguson, McGlinchey.
Subs: McDonald, Currie, Trialist.
Scorers: Lisinski (36), Finan (88)
Booked: McGlinchey (23), Munro (32), MacMillan (70)

Greenock Juniors: Graham, Campbell, Sutherland, Malone, Church,M.Dow, Mooney, McLachlan, Gilmour, J.P.Dow, Brown.
Subs: Fleming (Brown 77), Cannon, Stanley (Mooney 79), Stinson, Barnes (Gilmour 85).
Scorers: Malone (2), Gilmour (18)
Booked: M.Dow (50), McLachlan (55), J.P. Dow (75), Fleming (80)

Referee: Steven McFaulds