A STRONG second-half performance was not enough to prevent Greenock Wanderers slipping to a 40-29 defeat away to Linlithgow on Saturday, writes John Dyer.

Wanderers travelled to West Lothian looking to build on the previous week's battling win at home to Stewartry - but the Fort Matilda men put in a poor first half display and reached the interval trailing 30-3 and with a mountain to climb in the second half.

However, they almost achieved a win thanks to a transformational performance after the break.

The home side were dominant all of the first half, starting with a penalty after just four minutes, and had added their fourth try and a bonus point by half-time. Wanderers had claimed just three points through a penalty by McDaid.

But what a difference in the second half would be. The visitors had more of the ball and scored a try by Rory Cameron, which was followed up with two from the redoubtable forward Murray McDonald and another by Dylan Campbell bringing the score to 30-29.

READ MORE: Wanderers hold off Stewartry to secure vital win in battle for survival

A yellow card for scrum half Garath Knox allowed the home side to get their breath back with a try to extend their lead to 37-29.

And with the last kick of the match, the home side converted a penalty in front of the posts to finish winners by an 11-point margin.

A bonus point was all the reward, mainly through the efforts of the forwards, that Wanderers achieved for a scintillating second-half performance.

Wanderers' next match is at home to third-top Dunfermline on Saturday, February 22, with a 2pm kick-off at Fort Matilda.