Cambuslang Rangers 1-1 Kilbirnie Ladeside
Stagecoach Super League 1st Division
Saturday 16th October
at Somervell Park
Cambuslang Rangers were involved in the proverbial game of two
halves at the weekend. A scintillating show of football blew the opposition
away in the firs half as Kilbirnie came under pressure from Cambuslang. The
powerful runs and pace of Paul Brown was a constant thorn in the Kilbirnie back
line. But in the end up the Lang only grabbed a 1 goal interval lead. Chances
were created to win a number of games. The tables were turned in the 2nd half
as Kilbirnie came out with all guns blazing writes Jim Logan
Cambuslang lined up with Paul Brown leading the line after his
impressive return the previous week for only his 2nd start of the season. Still
out though were Doak, Carmichael and Tyczynski, the later as a result of a
challenge in the game against Lugar.
The home side were put under some early pressure at the start of
the match when Longmuir and Gayne went close. It was a full 15 minutes before
anything was seen of the Lang and Holmes had a chance but the keeper saved,
then a late flag meant it wouldn't have counted anyway. Cambuslang took the
lead on 17 minutes. Brown was played in by McCrae and he rounded the keeper
before firing the ball home. Paterson was next to test the Kilbirnie keeper who
saved his effort. On 35 minutes another chance went a begging, this time Brown
miss controlled in the box allowing the keeper to gather. Paterson the played
in Brown but he shot straight at the keeper with Galloway screaming for the
ball to be played across goal. Gillies for the visitors was first into the
referee's note book for a crude challenge on Galloway. Cambuslang then had
there best spell of the game where they created chance after chance but a
combination of good defending, poor finishing and good goal keeping kept them
at bay. Galloway fizzed the ball across the face of goal, which first Brown
narrowly failed to convert then Holmes was inches away with his sliding effort.
Brown then tested the keeper from 12 yards and another fine save kept the Lang
striker out. Skipper Billy Holmes will be wondering how he didn't score after
his shot from 5 yards out was stopped by the keeper from point blank range, a
fine stop it was too. The last action of the half was inevitably at the
Kilbirnie as Cambuslang searched for that vital 2nd goal. A great run down the
line by Brown who then delivered a perfect cross for Burns but he headed
straight at the keeper who gathered easily.
H-T 1-0
The visitors made a change at the start of the half, replacing
Bries with Duffy. Cambuslang started the half as the finished the first, on the
attach. Billy Holmes saw his effort come back off the post and Brown followed
up but he could only hit the side netting when he should have cut the ball back
to the on rushing players. Another chance gone. Kilbirnie sub Duffy wasted no
time in getting involved as he ploughed into the back of Brown to earn a yellow
card. Kilbirnie made the breakthrough after a quickly taken free kick caught
out the Cambuslang keeper and defenders. As Rowan and his team mates attempted
to line up the wall, Longmuir curled the ball into the net, much to the
annoyance of the home side. Paterson earned a yellow card for his protests. The
visitors were more of a threat in the 2nd half and were creating openings with
some ease, but like Cambuslang in the first were unable to convert them. On 65
minutes Lang had Burns to thank as he cleared Paccitti effort off the line. On
70 minutes Cambuslang replaced Holmes with Ferguson and Kilbirnie replaced
their goal scorer Longmuir with Chalmers. Minutes after coming on Chalmers for
Kilbirnie should have given his side the lead. A delightful cross by Grant was
met by the head of Chalmers but he headed wide from 6 yards out, a huge let off
for Cambuslang there. Cambuslang went close through Jamie McCarroll, his effort
screamed inches past the up right with the Kilbirnie keeper a mere spectator.
In the final minutes Cambuslang began to play as they did in the first half but
were unable to grab a winner.
F-T 1-1
Rowan, Fisher, Burns, Feenie, Coulter, Paterson, McCarroll, Holmes
(Ferguson 69), Brown (Young 88), McCrae, Galloway.
Subs Not Used : Lowe (GK) McGrath & Graham.