Troon 2-1 Cambuslang Rangers
Rockware Super 1st Division
Saturday 15th March
at Portland Park
Cambuslang
Rangers slumped to yet another defeat this time to second placed Troon.
Cambuslang made the trip looking to gather a vital 3 points in their fight for
survival and as games run out Cambuslang find themselves in a precarious
position. With only 4 games and 12 points to play for Cambuslang need to win
all the remaining games to give themselves a slight chance of starting up but
this defeat might just be one too many.
Cambuslang had,
earlier in the season, defeated Troon quite comfortably 4-1. Just where it's
all went wrong is anybody's question?
Cambuslang were
missing influential Jim Kavanagh due to back trouble and Derek Watson was still
laid low with a bout of Flu.
The home side
made their intention known fairly early and Lang stopper Stevie McGovern was
called into action after only 5 minutes. Elliot testing him from distance which
he saved fairly easily. Ferry then forced McGovern into another stop as
Cambuslang found themselves under some early pressure. The home side made the
breakthrough after only 17 minutes of the first half. Defender Ferguson gave
away a stupid free kick on the touchline. The free kick was played into the box
and only half cleared to Elliott who volleyed past the Lang keeper. Cambuslang
responded positively and went close to levelling through Stoddart but his over
head kick went wide of the upright. Balmain went close soon after but his shot
whistled past the post. This has been a problem for Cambuslang for a number of
weeks, they get into some superb positions but time after time they fail to
make the keeper make a save and yesterday was no different. Lang's Alan
Paterson missed a great chance to pull the Lang level. Holmes played him in
with a quickly taken free kick but the keeper saved well. Cambuslang almost
conceded a second after another mistake by Ferguson. This time the big defender
lost possession allowing Elliot in on goal but Lang keeper McGovern kept the
Lang in it with a fine stop. Cambuslang picked up the first caution when Taylor
was yellow carded after a rash challenge in the middle of the park. The home
side increased their advantage on 37 minutes. A hopeful free kick was played
into the box and the Cambuslang defence failed to deal with it allowing Elliott
to knock back across goal and Ferry had the easy option of knocking home.
H-T 2-0
Cambuslang found
themselves on the back foot at the start of the second half and once again it
was keeper McGovern who saved them from going 3 behind. Cambuslang replaced
Stoddart with Dignam and a much needed injection of pace up front. Cambuslang
thought they had pulled a goal back when Mark Daisley had the ball in the net
but the flag was up for offside. within a minute and Cambuslang again had the
ball in the net but this was ruled out for an earlier infringement. Webster was
replaced by Carmichael on 65 minutes. Substitute Dignam went close with a drive
for the edge of the box that went inches wide of the post. The home side should
have killed of Cambuslang before now but a combination of poor finishing and
good goal keeping gave the Lang some hope. The game should have been over on 70
minutes but Ferry shot straight at McGovern. In the last throw of the dice
Cambuslang replaced Taylor with McCrae. The substitute was involved straight
away and indeed missed a glorious chance to score. After a goalmouth scramble
the ball just wouldn't go in for the Lang and it bounced and bobbled it's way
to McCrae and from almost on the goal line he put the ball over the bar, a
quite astonishing miss. Lang's Balmain found himself in on goal but a fine stop
form the Troon keeper kept his effort out. Deep into stoppage time the game
descended into a farcical state. McCrae was fouled just outside the Troon box
and a scuffle broke out between the two players but play raged on before the
referee eventually awarded the Lang man the free kick. But after consulting
with his linesman, who incidentally had not flagged for the incident, proceeded
to book Paterson of Cambuslang. It was clearly McCrae who was the player
involved but Paterson received the yellow card. After the furore had died down
Paterson stepped up to take the free kick and he fired it into the top corner
giving the keeper no chance, there was no time for Cambuslang to launch another
attack an the referee blew for time up.
McGovern,
Ferguson, Taylor (McCrae 78), Feeney, Doak, Webster (Carmichael 65), Stoddart
(Dignam 50), Holmes, Daisley Paterson & Balmain