Vale of Leven 3-1 Cambuslang Rangers
Abercorn 1st Division
at Millburn Park.
This could have been the Cup hangover
we all feared, they say a Week's along time in politics, well spare a thought for
the Cambuslang Rangers Fans who witnessed possibly their sides worst
performance of the season. A comfortable 3-1 reverse against 3rd top Vale of
Leven left the fans wondering, how they hit the dizzy heights of the OVD cup
win over Pollok? and then slump to a performance that was as bad as the
weather?
Cambuslang went into the game full of confidence knowing full well
how difficult a match this was going to be, but were second to every ball and
the simplest of passes going astray. Cambuslang missed the engine of Willie
Galloway on the right hand side of the park. Galloway's omission allowed
Ferguson a starting slot in the only change to the previous week's side.
Cambuslang started on the attack and after 2 minutes BROWN saw his
effort easily saved by Dennison in the home goal. That was a close as the
visitors got to scoring in what was as poor a half witnessed by Lang travelling
support. The home side opened the scoring a couple of minutes later, Brown and
Wilson combined to play in Grace whose turn and shot brought out a fine
save from Rowan in the Lang goal. From the resulting corner, Wardle leapt to
bullet a header from 12 yards into the postage stamp corner with Rowan well
beaten.
The home side almost added a second after 12 minutes when Brown
picked up a pass from Lees before advancing to fire in a thunderous drive that
was tipped over the bar by Rowan. Although Vale dominated the entire opening
period the best they had to show for their efforts were a dipping volley from
Ward that was dropped by Rowan and another shot from Brown that flew over the
bar.
H-T 1-0
The home side made a blistering start to the second half and
killed off Cambuslang with 2 quick goals in the opening 5 minutes of the half.
Wilson won the ball on the right and quickly made a bee line for goal and from
just inside the area his low drive beat the keeper and nestled just
inside the far post. Three minutes later it was Wilson again whose lightening
pace caused problems for the Lang defence. This time he raced clear on the
right and waited for the supporting Ward who then side stepped
McGregor and fired the ball into the net between Rowan and his near
post.
Lang responded immediately with a triple substitution in an
attempt to get back into the game, Love, Stoddart and McCarroll all coming on
to replace Ferguson, Carmichael and Burns. This move certainly improved
Cambuslang but still they struggled to get any fluency into their game. They
almost lost a 4th goal when Grace broke free on the right and with Ward free in
the middle defender McGregor hauled Grace to the ground to earn a caution.
Coulter was then cautioned for a crude challenge from behind on McKenzie who
had skipped past a couple of defenders on his way to goal. The Lang pulled a
goal back after 68 minutes through top scorer Paul Browns who's
glancing header from an in swinging corner found the back of the net with
Dennison beaten. The visitors threw
everything at Vale for the rest of the match but they were repelled by some
resolute defending from the home side who seemed to be hanging on
slightly. In the darkening gloom substitute John Kemp had a chance to add
to Langs misery as he broke but with only Rowan to beat he lobbed the ball over
both keeper and crossbar.
F-T 3-1
Team
Rowan, Doak, McGregor, Fennie, Martin, Coulter, Ferguson (Stoddart
50), Carmichael (McCarroll 50), Holmes, Burns (Love 50), Brown.
Subs not used
Murphy and McCrae