Cambuslang 1-2 Renfrew
Rockware Super 1st
Division
Saturday 25th January
2003
At Somervell Park
Cambuslang
finally got to play a game in 2003 but it wont be one they will want to
remember. The game was played in monsoon conditions but was by no means of an
excuse for the dismal 1st half display.
Manager
Andy Cunningham gave a start to his new signing John Lyons but the midfielder
failed to impress on his debut for the Lang as did a few of the regulars too.
Keeper
Alan Wardlaw was still missing through injury as was Carmichael, Watson,
Balmain and Paterson, this meant a bit of shuffling by the management team.
The
regular showers did not help the heavy conditions before the game during the
game and the park seemed to cut up pretty badly. The visitors didn't take long
to find the back of the net after some poor defending from the Lang. 10 minutes
on the clock and McLafferty had all the time in the world to pick his spot
after he was left in acres of space to latch onto Barr's pass across the face
of the penalty area that wasn't cut out. Lang keeper McGovern had to be on his
toes minutes later when he punched clear a cross with McLafferty lurking.
Renfrew doubled their lead on 25 minutes this time courtesy of a penalty after
Ferguson was ruled to have pulled down McLafferty. The Frew striker dusted
himself down and calmly slotted past McGovern. Only a minute later and the Frew
striker could have grabbed his hat trick, but his drive from 20 yards went
inches wide of the upright with McGovern rooted to the spot. With 5 minutes of
the half remaining Renfrew were awarded a free kick right on the edge of the
penalty box, again Ferguson the culprit. Renfrew were enraged by the
decision as they thought it was clearly inside the box. From the resulting free
kick Renfrew spurned the chance and blasted weakly over the bar.
H-T
0-2
Cambuslang
improved but only slightly in the second half. Webster had Cambuslang's first
effort at goal and that came on 47 minutes, but it flew over the bar. On the
hour mark Cambuslang threw caution to the wind with a triple substitution.
Dignam, Lyons and Galloway were all replaced by Daisley, Kavanagh and Stoddart.
This seemed to toughen Cambuslang up a little and they came more and more into
the game pushing Renfrew back for the fist time in the game. They finally
pulled one back on 77 minutes when sub Ian
Stoddart, who had made a big difference since his introduction to the game, hit
a pinpoint cross that found the head of Billy Holmes, who guided it into the
net while under some severe pressure from the keeper and his defenders. After
giving them the life line Cambuslang continued to pressure the visitors but
were unable to find that second goal. A disappointing result in a game where
Cambuslang just never looked like winning and it was as poor a first half seen
down Somervell for some time. Slight improvements in the second but Lang
management team know its results like this that will see them slide down the
table rapidly.
Line
up's
Lang
McGovern,
Galloway (Kavanagh 60), McGregor, Doak, Ferguson, Webster, Lyons (Stoddart 60),
Holmes, McCrae, Dignam (Daisley 60) & McFarlane
Subs
Not Used Jones, McDonald
Frew
Thomson,
Hammond, Brogan, Farquarson, Dickson, Clark, Kenna, Ross, McLafferty, Barr
& Prentice
Subs
from McNally, Morrison, Quigley, Cuthbert & McCutcheon
This
weekend Cambuslang look to gain their first win of the New Year and their first
win since early November when Shotts are the visitors to Somervell park. Having
already handed the Lang a 5-2 thrashing earlier in the season the home side
will be hoping to avenge that.
Cambuslang
were handed a home tie in the Central League Cup 1st Round and Lesmahagow will
be the visitors to Somervell on the 22nd February.