Central League Cup 2nd round
Saturday 13th April 2003
At Duncansfield Park
Cambuslang Rangers got back into action after a 2 week lay off
allowing the other sides in the league a chance to catch up on some games they
had in hand. With some of the sides picking up much needed points Cambuslang
find themselves being dragged into the relegation zone. With only 3 games
remaining it is out of Cambuslang's hands as to where there fait lies.
But Cambuslang could put these problems to one side for the moment
as they travelled to Kilsyth to play the other Rangers in the Central League
Cup 2nd round. The match had added importance as the Kilsyth side are now
managed by two ex-Cambuslang men in John Mitchell and John Richardson who both
left Cambuslang in the summer. Kilsyth are leading the first division and
looking to step up into the Super League at the end of the season so Cambuslang
Rangers knew how difficult a game this was going to be.
In what turned out to be a pretty drab encounter where neither
team got any passing fluency as the ball was pinged form one end of the park to
the other especially by the home side who were quite happy to launch the ball
up field at every opportunity.
Cambuslang were missing Gary McGregor, Kenny Balmain and Alan
Foster all through injuries.
As the game sparked into life Cambuslang keeper Stevie McGovern
required treatment after being caught late by one of the Kilsyth front men but
the referee took no action. Cambuslang got a glimpse of goal on the 10 minute
mark, defender Galloway burst forward and found himself space inside the box
but the Lang man lacked confidence to have a shot and the chance was gone.
Lang's Paterson had an effort at goal but he fired it wide of the target. The
home side almost opened the scoring through ex-Lang striker Jamie Early, he got
on the end of a good cross by Campbell but McGovern saved well in the Lang
goal. That was quickly followed up by another wasted chance this time when
Campbell had a free header in the box but he headed straight at McGovern.
Cambuslang opened the scoring on 38 minutes. Paterson took a corner that was
headed on by Carmichael at the near post and his flick came to the unmarked
Holmes who made no mistake and volleyed past the keeper. The visitors almost
levelled at the end of the half. Lang keeper McGovern and defender Doak clashed
going for the same ball resulting in Doak heading over his advancing keeper but
luckily for both the header went wide of the goal.
H-T 0-1
The second half started with a bit of controversy when Mitchell
seemed to catch Feenie in the face with a flying arm, the referee surprised
everyone when he only yellow carded the Kilsyth player/ manager. Lang's Doak
was also cautioned after is reaction to the incident. Both players a bit lucky
to still be on the park. Cambuslang continued to do most of the pressing but
were not troubling the Kilsyth goal. Galloway fired wide from a good position.
Kilsyth again went close to levelling when a good cross into the box was
just missed by Earlie where the slightest of touches would have done. Lang
skipper Billy Holmes turned well just outside the box and delivered a great
cross to the head of Carmichael but he couldn't keep the header down. A minute
later the same player fired well over form another good position. Cambuslang
replaced Stoddart who had taken a knock with Webster. The home side's best
effort came on 80 minutes when Mitchell saw his effort cleared off the line by
Paterson. Cambuslang ran down the clock and brought on Taylor for Galloway
in stoppage time. Cambuslang progress into the Quarter Final , draw still to be
made.
Lang Line up
McGovern, Ferguson, Galloway (Taylor 90), Kavanagh, Doak, Feeney,
Paterson, Stoddart (Webster 76), Holmes, Carmichael & Dignam
Subs Not Used
Lyons, McCrae & Wardlaw