Cambuslang Rangers 2-3 Kirkintilloch Rob Roy
Abercorn Central
League 1st Division
Saturday 3rd April
2004
at Somervell Park
Cambuslang
Rangers blew an excellent opportunity to put some breathing space between themselves
and the rest of the chasing pack at the weekend. Kirkintilloch Rob Roy were the
visitors to Somervell Park and duly left with all 3 points. The homeside threw
away a 2 goal interval lead to eventually lose out 3-2 courtesy of a
controversial stoppage time penalty kick.
The home side
made three changes to the side that lost out to Tayport the previous week.
Skipper Billy Holmes, Graeme Doak & Gary McGregor's starting
places were taken by Alan McCrae, Craig Ferguson and Jamie McCarroll.
Kirkintilloch
were the form team at the moment and had moved up into 2nd spot in the table
which made this match a six pointer. Although Cambuslang have a number of games
in hand over them they still needed to win this one. This result now throws the
cat among the pigeons as both Rob Roy and Greenock come back into contention.
This match was
played in scattered very heavy showers that made playing conditions very tricky
indeed.
The visitors
were first to threaten and really ought to have done better when Welsh broke up
field and passed a couple of Lang defenders with relative ease, but the
defender screwed his shot well wide of the target. On 15 minutes another chance
was wasted by the visitors this time McGillvary the sinner. After a good ball
into the box his free headed was well tipped over the bar by Rowan in the Lang
goal. Only a minute later and Rowan was called upon again, and he produced
another good stop to keep the game goalless. On 23 minutes the home side opened
the scoring against the run of play. Brown cross into the box was
miss-controlled by McCrae and the ball eventually came to Galloway who's
deflected shot beat McNabb in the Roy goal. The visitors response was instant
and they almost levelled from the restart, but Welsh watched in agony as his
effort came back off the bar before being cleared. Rob Roy were forced into a
change on the half hour mark when Blaikie was replaced with Docherty. The first
yellow card of the afternoon went in the direction of Roy's Dick, speaking out
of turn.
The home side
snatched a valuable second on 43 minutes. Burns rattled the base of the post
with a fine drive and Brown was on hand to stoop and head the rebound home.
H-T 2-0
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Graeme Doak In Full Flight |
Roy Keeper Helpless At Lang’s first
Goal |
Carmichael Stretchered Off |
Cambuslang
made a change at the start of the second half when Brain Martin failed to
appear after the break, his place was taken by Graeme Doak. The visitors gave themselves
a lifeline when, on 58 minutes they pegged a goal back. McManus fired in his
effort but it was well blocked by Rowan. As the ball came back to McManus he
made no mistake the second time and buried his effort under Rowan and into the
net. Cambuslang went close through a Brown header, but the keeper saved well.
On 63 minutes both Roy's Quigg and Lang's Doak were cautioned for a tangle off
the ball. Cambuslang brought on Alan Paterson for McCrae on 70 minutes. The
home side were forced into making a change when Carmichael was carried off, to
be replaced by Stoddart. The home side were reduced to 10 men when Galloway
appeared to push Roy's Dick to the ground. The referee showed the Lang man the
red card. The match was levelled when keeper Rowan totally misjudged the flight
of the ball and if drifted over his head into the back of the net and Rob Roy
were level. Just as the game was about to end an amazing dive in the penalty
area by Rob Roy's Dick and resulting penalty appeals were waived away by the referee
who indicated the player to get to his feet. Lang's Paterson was so incensed by
the blatant attempt to cheat the referee he confronted the offending player and
attempted to drag him to his feet. The referee then amazingly awarded a spot
kick for Paterson's intervention as it occurred in the area. Dick stepped up
and despite Rowan getting a good hand to ball he was unable to keep it out and
Roy ran out 3-2 winners, with a large helping hand from the man in the middle.
Lang's management and players remonstrated with the official at the end of the
match but to no avail.
F-T 2-3
Lang Line Up
Rowan,
Ferguson, Burns, Fennie, Martin (Doak 45), Coulter, McCarroll, Carmichael
(Stoddart 72), McCrae (Paterson 70), Brown & Galloway
Subs Not Used
Murphy &
Love