LGE LARK AWAY 221108

Larkhall Thistle 2-4 Cambuslang Rangers

Central Region 1^st Division

Saturday 22^nd November 2008

At Gasworks Park

Cambuslang faced the difficult trip to Larkhall last weekend but it proved a happy journey for the Somervell Park side. They left Gasworks Park with a valuable 3 points after a storming 4-2 win. It was especially sweet for the Lang’s management team as Larkhall were Wardlaw’s previous employers.

There was also a welcome return to scoring form for striker Kevin Ogilvie who bagged 2 crackers during the game, Lang’s other goals came from Chris Queen, 1 from the penalty spot.

Lang made 1 change from last week, Ogilvie restored to the starting line up as Donaldson was unavailable.

This was a stormy affair with Cambuslang having to ‘win’ the game twice. Leading 2 nil at the break, Larkhall came storming back in the 2^nd half to draw level but Lang pulled themselves together and grabbed another 2 goals to take the excellent 3 points.


OGILVIE RETURNED TO FINE SCORING FORM	LARKHALL CAME STORMING BACK IN 2^nd HALF

Cambuslang should have had the game all sewn up in the first half but the woodwork came to the home sides rescue on a few occasions.

On 5 minutes Ogilvie struck the bar with an acute effort and the ball ran clear. Lang picked up an early booking when Sweeney was cautioned after only 8 minutes. A minute later and Andy Kenna fired in a shot but it went well wide of the target. On 10 minutes Cambuslang thought they had taken the lead but the ref thought otherwise and pulled the play back for an earlier infringement. It was all Cambuslang in the opening spell with the home side failing to make any in roads towards the Lang goal.

Cambuslang pilled on the pressure and after 5 successive corner kicks, Ogilvie struck the bar again, this time with a header from close range. On 17 minutes another Lang chance was squandered, Miller latched onto a poor defensive header but he fired wide from 18 yards.

The breakthrough came on 31 minutes. Chris Queen’s effort was half blocked and it came to Ogilvie, he turned on the penalty spot and fired into the net, no more then the Land deserved at this point. Larkhall’s first effort at goal came after 33 minutes. With a hint of offside, Shields fired wide from a good position. Larkhall keeper Soave then produced a fine double save, first he blocked Millers effort then got up well to block queen who was following up and he tipped the ball over the bar. Just before the break and Cambuslang doubled their lead. Fine play from Nikki Miller, who held the ball up waiting on support that arrived in the form of Queen. Miller fired the ball across the face of goal and Queen was on hand to ram the ball into the net from close range.

H-T 0-2


A SUPERB SAVE FROM CONNOLLY	LARKHALL LEVEL AFTER SLACK MARKING

It was a different Larkhall side that emerged for the 2^nd half, both in personnel and attitude. 2 changes for the home side seen McDermott and Marshall introduced at the expense of Bonner and Russell. The change certainly fired up Larkhall as they threw everything at Cambuslang. The visitors just failed to get going and were penned into their own half unable to make any progress. Larkhall were piling on the pressure and Lang keeper Connolly produced a fine stop from Coyle’s free kick that was heading for the top corner until Connolly’s finger tip save put it over the bar. Larkhall dragged themselves back into the game 5 minutes after the restart. Sloppy marking at a corner allowed Coulter space to nod into the net. A minute later and Cambuslang should have been awarded a penalty after Sweeney took a kick to the head but the ref waived Lang’s appeals away. The visitors were dealt a blow when Irvine limped off with an ankle knock, making him a doubt for the Scottish tie. His place was taken by Lynch at full back.

On the hour mark and the home side were level. The goal was very similar to their first one with a header at a corner and once again the runners were not picked up and this allowed Dewar the space to head home. At this point there looked only to be one winner of this game and Larkhall threw everything at Lang. But credit to the visitors who dug in and gained some much needed composure and started to play as they had in the first 45. A double change for Lang saw Santi and Templeton introduced to the play, with Miller and Sweeney withdrawn.

With 15 minutes remaining Ogilvie forced the keeper into a fine stop. Ex Larkhall keeper Connolly was then cautioned for complaining about the use of elbows. On 80 minutes Larkhall were reduced to 10 men and Lang awarded a penalty kick. Coyle was red carded for the foul in the box. Queen kept his head to regain the lead for Cambuslang as he sent the keeper the wrong way, a blow for the home side who had given so much in the 2^nd half, but the frustration was beginning to show both on and off the park as both dug outs were involved in a ‘heated exchange’. Queen was cautioned for ‘over celebrating’ the goal.

QUEEN RESTORED LEAD FROM PENALTY SPOT

A bizarre booking came for Lang’s Doak, although the ball did strike the defenders hand, there was no way it was intentional but the ref flashed the yellow card. Cambuslang killed off any hopes of a come back when Ogilvie grabbed his second of the game with a fine strike from just inside the box.

The game ended on a sour note as Larkhall and Lang’s benches yet again had words with some players also trying to get involved. This resulted in another sending off for the home side when Crossley was sent packing for his involvement as was Lang coach Tam Miller and Larkie Manager Bobby Crilly.

So all in all a fine days work for Cambuslang and a timely boost for next weekends visit of Super League Giants, Irvine Meadow, but more importantly a valuable 3 points.

F-T 2-4

Lang Line Up

For More Shots From The Game

CONNOLLY

IRVINE (LYNCH 55)

FERGUSON

DOAK

BISHOP

KENNA

RENWICK

SWEENEY (TEMPLETON 73)

OGILVIE

MILLER (SANTI 73)

QUEEN

MARSHALL

HUGHES

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