Central Region 1st Division
At
Cambuslang slim hopes of first division survival were given a shot
in the arm on Wednesday night after a close 2-1 win over neighbours Blantyre
Vics. 2 converted penalties from Paul Hughes had Lang coasting towards 3
valuable points but then the hero turned villain as he was controversially red
carded for what the ref called, a deliberate elbow. No one else inside
Vics pulled a goal back in stoppage time but the referee stunned
everyone yet again by finding 5 minutes injury time, setting up a nervy end to
the match. But Lang managed to hold on for what could be a very, very crucial
win. It was quite an impressive display from the
The side produced the performance that the manager has been
screaming out for and a priceless 3 points on the board, the win also moved the
Lang out of the relegation zone, albeit on goal difference.
Lang manager Alan Wardlaw had been busy yet again by bringing in a
couple of trialists in an attempt to find that formula needed to steer clear of
the relegation zone. 1 familiar face was that of Paul Brown. The Lang striker
making the move from Rob Roy to join up for the third time with Wardlaw who
played with him at Cambuslang and also managed him at Larkhall. It is hoped
Paul will provide the goals the side has been lacking of late.
On 12 minutes Cambuslang had the first chance of the game. Coyle
and Brown combined to set up Trialist 1 and his shot on the turn was blocked
and cleared out wide, it came back to Coyle whose cross was met by the trialist
1 and this time his header went inches wide.
The pernickety ref stunned the Lang bench when he booked trialist
2 for having no shin guards. On 18 minutes Vics had there first real effort at
goal. B7 firing wide from a decent position. Cambuslang had another chance to go
in front when Hughes cross was met by trialist 2 but his header flew inches
over the bar. Trialist 1 forced the Vics keeper into a fine stop and the ball
fell to trialist 2 who also had his effort saved. Vics then went close at the
other end a free kick 20 yards out was well saved by the Lang keeper diving to
his right to tip the ball round the post.
Cambuslang were awarded a penalty on 36 minutes after
The home side looked to have grabbed an equaliser on 44 minutes
but a fine clearance off his own line by Doak kept the Lang goal intact for
now.
H-T 0-1
Vics made 2 changes at the break, 12 and 15 replaced ???????.
Cambuslang had another great chance to extend their lead when Browns perfect
header set up trialist 1 but he fired just over the bar. Cambuslang were
awarded their second penalty of the night when Brown was tugged in the box just
as he fired in his shot. Hughes stepped up and this time the keeper never even
moved for the ball such was the quality of the kick.
Davie Carson had 2 great chances to add to Lang’s tally but the
midfielder shot just wide with the first and inches over with the second. The
game turned on its head when Hughes was called over by the ref and shown a red
card, only after did we learn this was for a deliberate elbow that by all
accounts only he seen. These decisions saw Cambuslang loose their shape
slightly and were being pushed deeper and deeper as Vics threw everyone forward
at every opportunity.
In stoppage time Vics grabbed a consolation goal. B3 volleyed home
from the edge of the box passed the unsighted Lang goalie. As the clock was
running and running it was a full 5 minutes later that the man in the middle
blew the whistle, just where the time came from only he knows. Cambuslang held
on for the vital 3 points and a lifeline for 1st Division football next season
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Lang Line Up |
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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 |
Fraser McGowan Doak Kavanagh Hughes Coyle Trialist Brown Ogilvy Divers Reid Dykes Kondol McMullan |
