Cambuslang Rangers 1-3 St Anthony’s
Abercorn 1st Division
Saturday 8th May 2003
at Somervell Park
Cambuslang Rangers crashed to a 3-1 defeat in their final Home
league match of the season. With the supporters in party mood after clinching
promotion the week before the visitors had other ideas and arrived to spoil the
party.
It was an uninspiring display for the champions elect and were out
fought and second to most balls. The hectic fixture schedule was beginning to
show on the Somervell Park boys who just couldn't seem to get going in this
match.
St Anthony's had clinched their place in the first division the
previous week staving off the threat of relegation but were determined to
finish the season on a high, they also had come to gain revenge for the last
encounter between the sides in which the Lang delivered the Ant's first
competitive defeat at their new ground McKenna Park.
Cambuslang were still missing Brain Martin and Richie Love through
injury.
Cambuslang found themselves under some pressure as early as the
2nd minute and indeed should have fell behind with the first attack of the
game. A free kick on the edge of the box was well struck but Lang keeper was
down to it but he spilled the ball into the path of Mulheron who from 3 yards managed
to put the ball over the bar. Minutes later and another chance was presented to
the visitors this time Rowan pulling off a fine stop. A bizarre decision left
the Lang fans in a rage when Burns steaming toward goal was fouled 20 yards out
as the whistle blew and Lang thought they had a free kick the referee booked
Burns for diving, easily the poorest decision of the match. 10 minutes and
Cambuslang carved out their first opening of the game. McCrae sent over a
delightful cross which was met by Brown but his effort was well saved. The
breakthrough came on 20 minutes and it was the visitors who opened the scoring.
The dangerous long throws finally caught out the Lang defence and Mulheron made
no mistake heading past Rowan. The home side were very little threat at the
other end and the front pairing of McCrae and Brown were starved of any real
quality ball as the Lang midfield failed to get into the match. The Lang
responded after they went a goal behind and almost immediately should have
levelled. Jamie McCarroll having his effort cleared off the line.
H-T 0-1
Cambuslang looked a lot more hungrier in the second half, no doubt
a few choice words from the manager at the interval were the cause for the
urgency shown at the start of the half. The home side almost got back level
after 3 minutes of the re start. Burns cross to McCrae but he was unable to
keep the header down and it went inches over the bar. Next up McCarroll for the
home side but he too failed to make the keeper work as he pulled his shot well
wide of the target. 10 minutes in the second half and the visitors had a man
booked for time wasting as at every opportunity they would try and run down the
clock. The home side eventually gave the part mood Lang fans something to shout
about. On 55 minutes they drew level. Top scorer Brown had a fresh air swipe at
the ball which somehow fell kindly for him and he thrashed the ball home. The
Lang fans burst into song and the party almost begun. Cambuslang replaced
McCrae with Holmes on 65 minutes. Ant's Mulheron rattled the bar with a fine
header minutes later. With 10 minutes remaining the visitors regained the lead
and it was that man Mulheron, who was giving the Lang defence a hard time all
afternoon. He poked home the ball after the Lang failed to clear the danger in
the crowded penalty area. As Cambuslang pushed for another leveller they were
hit with the sucker punch and Ant's Mulheron rounded of a perfect afternoon for
himself and team mates with a deserved hat trick. A long cross into the box was
met by his diving header and the party was well and truly spoilt. The champagne
would have to go back on the ice until the last league encounter last night
(WED 12 MAY). That was until news filtered through that chasers Greenock had
been defeated by Vale of Leven meaning Cambuslang were now the Champions. As
the player and fans both celebrated and awaited the presenting of the trophy,
it was withheld by the SJFA representative as it was still possible for
Cambuslang to lose the title. Sitting above Rob Roy who had finished their
campaign and in front of Greenock who could not now catch Cambuslang. But if
Cambuslang were to lose their last match by, wait for it, 13 goals then Rob Roy
would be champions. So the party was halted and the fans disappointed the presentation
could not take place. The unlikely event of losing by that amount was still not
enough to persuade the SJFA rep to hand over the trophy. At the end of the game
Cambuslang made a sporting gesture to the visitors by signing the match ball
and presenting it to Ant's hat trick hero Joe Mulheron.
So now Cambuslang will have to wait until Wednesday's final league
game where they travel to Greenock to take on relegation candidates Port
Glasgow who have to score more goals in this one game than they have in the
previous 20 this season.
Line up Rowan, Ferguson, McGregor (Paterson 88), Feenie, Doak,
Coulter, McCarroll, Galloway, McCrae (Holmes 65), Brown, Burns
Subs Not Used Murphy, Carmichael & Stoddart