Lanark United
1-2 Cambuslang Rangers
Abercorn
Central League 1st Division
Saturday 13th
March
Cambuslang Rangers opened up a 3 point gap at the top of the table
after a hard fought 2-1 win at Lanark at the weekend. Never an easy place to go
to and get a result but Andy Cunningham's men came away with the three points
needed to keep the promotion push on track.
The visitors were still without defender Gary McGregor due to
holiday and it's almost certain he will miss the vital cup tie next weekend
too.
Cambuslang were the first to threaten and it was the big centre
half Brian Martin who rattled the side netting with a powerful header from a
corner. Cambuslang were making all the play as Lanark failed to get out of
their own half. Paul Brown was next to have a go but he pulled his shot wide
from a promising position. The home side got their first effort at goal on 17
minutes but Murdoch fired over from about 10 yards. Minutes later and the first
yellow card of the game was issued to Convey for an assault on Galloway.
Cambuslang Rangers opened the scoring on 20 minutes. Lanark failed to clear the
danger and the ball came to McCarroll and his little flick cross deceived
everyone and ended up in the back of the net, no one more surprised than the
Lang man himself. The visitors were forced into an early change when Paterson
had to be replaced after picking up a knock with McCrae taking his place.
Cambuslang's Carmichael was the first Lang player into the ref's notebook for
dissent at another poor decision from the man in black. Cambuslang went close
on 37 minutes when McCarroll shaved the outside of the post with a powerful
drive. Lang keeper was called into action and the big keeper duly obliged with
a fine save from Kerr. The game's most contentious moment came on 38 minutes
when Cambuslang thought they had scored a second goal. McCrae cut the ball back
to the on rushing Brown who duly despatched his shot past the keeper only for
the Referee to rule it out for wait for it Offside. Another poor decision from
the referee. Cambuslang did however grab a second a minute later when Brown ran
half the length of the field with very little opposition and he calmly slotted
past the keeper. Cambuslang then made another enforced change when Ferguson
replaced Galloway who had failed to recover from the earlier challenge and was
complaining of double vision.
H-T 0-2
Cambuslang almost stretched their lead at the start of the second
half. A deep cross into the box found Brian Martin and his excellent diving
header was superbly saved by the Lanark keeper, it looked a goal all the way
but for the timely intervention from Sparkes. The home side dragged themselves
back into the game after Cambuslang were unable to get the ball clear allowing
Convey the time to knock past Rowan. The visitors picked up another silly
booking for dissent when Ferguson talked himself into the wee black book and he
was quickly followed by Martin after disputing the lack of an offside flag as
Cambuslang for the first time in the match looked a little ragged. The visitors
got a large slice of luck on 69 minutes when a shot from Smith took a wicked
deflection and went inches wide of the post with keeper Rowan diving the other
way. Cambuslang went close through Brown but his header narrowly missed the
target. As Cambuslang began to play again the chances were coming and next up
Holmes fired wide from close range. Brown should have killed the game off on 86
minutes but he shot straight at the keeper from the edge of the box, he was
soon replaced with Love. Last action of the game should have resulted in a
penalty for the visitors after McCrae was hauled down in the box by Murdoch but
the referee to the surprise of everyone waived play on...
F-T 1-2
Line up
Rowan, Doak, McCarroll, Fennie, Martin, Coulter, Galloway
(Ferguson 43),Paterson (McCrae 26), Brown (Love 88), Holmes & Carmichael.
Subs Not Used
Murphy and Stoddart.