Cambuslang Rangers 2-2 Forth Wanderers

Stagecoach Central 2^nd Division

Saturday 16^th September 2007

at Somervell Park

Cambuslang Rangers made no fewer than 6 changes to the side that lost last weekend away to Greenock. There was a welcome return to the starting line up for number 1 keeper Alan Smith. Missing still was Kevin Ogilvie who is still struggling with an ankle knock.

The home supporters were looking for an improved effort from the side and they got one. The 2-2 result may not have been the desired outcome but the commitment and effort was there for all to see. But for a wonder strike in the second half from Kelly Lang may well have taken the 3 points. On chances alone Cambuslang created numerous but, this has been the story so far this season, not enough are being converted.

Forth On The Attack	Docherty Congratulated After Opening Scoring

Another player returning to the side after a 2 week break was defender Bishop, and it was his mistake, after only 6 minutes, that lead to the first chance of the game for Forth. His slack pass back allowed Kelly in but Smith saved superbly.

Forth made the breakthrough on 10 minutes. Again it was all Lang’s own doing and they gave possession away far too cheaply and Burns pounced to knock past Smith.

Lang’s first real effort came on the half hour mark. Brown and Docherty combined well with the later firing inches over the bar. A minute later and it was Browns turn to fire just over the bar from a Docherty knockdown. Cambuslang had keeper Smith to thank for keeping them in the game on 35 minutes when he produced another fine stop, this time from the foot of Murray.

Cambuslang drew level on 37 minutes. Some dogged determination saw Docherty skip past the attentions of the Forth defender and he then curled his effort into the top corner for a fine finish. A couple of minutes later and Cambuslang could have had a penalty kick. Docherty was barged over just inside the box but the ref waived him to his feet as play raged on. Brown had a glorious chance to nod Lang in front but his header went agonisingly wide of the far post from a Docherty corner. Cambuslang had Forth pegged back for the remainder of the half but failed to convert their superiority into goals. The final chance of the half fell to Smith but he blasted over after more good work from Docherty.

H-T 1-1

Both sides made a tentative start to the half but it was still Cambuslang on top for most of it. On the hour mark Lang got their noses back in front and this time it was Paul Hughes. Smith lost the ball but recovered it in time to slip it to Hughes who took a touch before dispatching the effort into the net.

Cambuslang were creating chance after chance from here on it but lady luck just wasn’t on their side as they missed a few chances and had a few saved by the Forth keeper.

The sucker blow came on 73 minutes when a big hole appeared in the Lang midfield and this allowed Kelly time to run at the Lang back 3 but he unexpectedly hit a speculative effort from all of 30 yards that flew past Smith into the top corner of the net. Very little the Lang keeper could have done to prevent this shot.

Scorer of Lang’s 1^st Docherty In The Thick Of It	Kav Out Jumps Forth Attacker

This was a bitter blow for the home side who had put so much into the game but they missed chances cost them dearly. Brown saw another effort saved and it was blocked by the legs of Wilson in the Forth goal. Cambuslang can take some heart from this performance as it was a vast improvement from the previous week. Smiths return a welcome boost as was that of Doak and Docherty. Now is the time for Cambuslang to push on from this and start putting the chances away and picking up more points.

No game this weekend, September Weekend Holiday. Next Match should be Carluke away on Saturday 29^th September 2007.

F-T 2-2

Lang Line Up		For More Shots From The Game
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17	Smith Doak Bishop Kavanagh Murphy Cairns Ferguson Hughes Brown Smith Docherty Barton Moore Dick Drew Watt	Click Here