Arthurlie 1-0 Cambuslang
Rangers
Rockware Glass Super 1st
Division
Saturday 14th December
At Dunterlie Park.
Cambuslang Rangers finally ended their run of drawn matches but it
wasn't the result either fans or players were hoping for. A narrow 1-0 defeat
at the hands of Arthurlie saw the Barrhead side leapfrog Cambuslang at the top
of the table. Despite putting a lot of effort into the game they still came
away with nothing. You know you have played well when you leave Dunterlie
disappointed with a 1-0 defeat. The Lang fans were hoping there would be
no repeat of the score line the last time they visited Barrhead, they found
themselves on the 6-1 thrashing.
Cambuslang made a couple of changes to the starting line up.
McFarlane was unavailable and Doak took his slot for only his 2nd appearance of
the season. Full back Stewart Taylor was also missing after he hurt himself in
training. Derek Carmichael was restored to the front line after a 2 game
suspension.
The home side as expected were out of the starting blocks pretty
quickly and should have opened the scoring after only 5 minutes, but a weak
header from Smyth was easily saved by McGovern in the Lang goal. Cambuslang
then picked up the first booking of the game when Carmichael was adjudged to
have fouled Smyth. The home side early pressure paid off on 10 minutes when
they took the lead. A slip by McGregor allowed McKenzie in on goal and he
made no mistake as he blasted the ball past the exposed McGovern. The
visitors should have been awarded a penalty only a minute after going behind.
Carmichael was clearly hauled down in the box but the man in the middle waived
the play on much to the annoyance of both Lang player and Fans. The penalty can
only be described as of the Stonewall variety. Cambuslang were starting to see
more of the ball and it took a great save from Cormack to
deny Balmain who fired in a shot from 25 yards and it was finger
tipped over the bar. Holmes went close soon after and he saw his effort well
blocked by keeper.
H-T 1-0
Arthurlie were forced into a change minutes into the second half
when Robertson was replaced by Ross. Cambuslang then made a change when they
brought on Dignam for the tiring Daisley. The visitors almost went 2 behind
when Smyth fired in a shot that had beaten McGovern but smacked off the post
and bounced kindly into the keeper’s arms. A minute later and Brolly held
off Foster before firing in a shot that was beaten out to Ross but the
midfielder screwed his shot wide from all of 6 yards really should have scored.
Webster then made way for Fay and Stoddart replaced Holmes. The home side
should have wrapped up the points in the final minute when sub Madden slid a shot
wide from 2 yards after the Lang defence again failed to clear the danger. For
all the pressing the home side were doing they couldn't kill off the Lang side
but who rarely threatened the Arthurlie goal in the second half. The Home side
held on for a valuable 3 points that sees them take over pole position in the
league.
F-T 1-0
McGovern, Doak, McGregor, Kavanagh, Webster (Fay 60), Foster,
Balmain, Ferguson, Daisley (Dignam 55), Carmichael, Holmes (Stoddart 65)
Subs Not Used Paterson & Wardlaw