Lang v Meadow

Cambuslang Rangers 4-3 Irvine Meadow

Stagecoach Super League 1st Division

Saturday 16th April

At Somervell Park

Cambuslang Rangers had a little bit of the jitters yet a gain this weekend as they almost threw away a 3 goal advantage. Leading 4-1 and under very little pressure the visitors fought back to set up a very nervy final minutes. But credit to the Lang as they held on this time unlike last weekend v Neilston.

It feels as if every report this season has to start with the injury situation but it just highlights what a difficult task the Cambuslang management team are up against each week, finding 11 fit players is a luxury at this stage in the season.

Still missing were Holmes, Doak, McGregor added to the suspensions of McCrae and Galloway meant it was trialists that filled the bench this week along side the management if needed.

The visitors started the better of the two sided and should have scored after only 5 minutes but a last ditch block by skipper Feenie allowed Rowan time to gather. The home side picked up an early booking when Graham was yellow cared for kicking the ball away. A silly card to pick up so early in the game.

The visitors made the breakthrough after 11 minutes. Ex Lang winger Brian Johnstone delivered a telling cross into the heart of the Lang defence and Baxter got up above everyone to power home his header, despite Rowan getting a good hand on the ball in sneaked in off the post to give Meadow the lead. Cambuslang drew level on the 20 minute mark. Meadow conceded a free kick 20 yards out. Lang's Burns curled the ball round the wall and into the bottom corner past the despairing dive of the Meadow number 1. 2 minutes later and Burns found himself in the ref's note book when he was adjudged to have fouled Johnstone. The home side took the lead on the half hour mark and it was a well worked goal topped off with a superb finish. Paterson took a quick corner which Burns left for Coulter and from 25 yards he rocketed his effort into the roof of the net with the Meadow keeper rooted to the spot as it flashed past him on its way to goal. Only a minute later and it was 3-1. Brown set up Burns who slotted his shot past the keeper for his second of the game. Cambuslang went in at the interval 3-1 to the good.

6 minutes into the 2nd half and Cambuslang made it 4 with another fine goal and well taken. Brown latched onto the long ball and he was bearing down on goal and then coolly chipped the ball over the advancing keeper for Langs 4th of the day. Another well taken goal. The visitors hit back on 57 minutes. A free kick conceded 18 yards out proved costly as Noble fired it round the wall and into the net. Like the previous game Cambuslang seemed to play too deep and were being pushed back giving Meadow time and space to knock the ball about and deliver it into the danger area. Although the Lang defence seemed to be coping you just knew they wouldn't hold out till the end of the game. There was a little flurry of cards midway through the half. McGowan received a yellow for a trip on Johnstone and then Cambuslang replaced Graham with McCarroll. Carmichael found himself in the ref's book after an accidental clash with Baxter. Minutes later Carmichael could have killed off the opposition, with only the keeper to beat he sliced his effort wide. Things went from bad to worse for the home side when Burns picked up his second booking off the game and headed off for an early bath. It seemed a harsh decision at the time as it looked like the Lang mad tried to play the ball before it took a bad bounce. Paterson followed the others into the ref's notebook for disputing the sending off. From the resulting free kick Meadow grabbed another and set up a tense finish. Baxter again on hand to find the back of the net with another excellent free kick. Cambuslang were huffing and puffing at this stage and the long hard season was beginning to tell on Andy's tired squad. Bur credit to the Lang who dug in and held on for the 3 points despite the visitors hitting the post late on. It had a bit of Deja Vu about it only this week the Lang saw this one out.

Rowan, Fisher, McGowan, Feenie, Ferguson, Coulter, Paterson, Burns, Brown (Trialist 83),Carmichael & Graham (McCarroll 61)

Subs Not Used Lowe, Trialist, Archer