Larkhall 0-1 Cambuslang Rangers
Abercorn Builders Premier League
Saturday 27th October
at Gasworks Park
Cambuslang Rangers got back to
winning ways last weekend when they travelled to play Larkhall. A single goal
by Alan Paterson gave the Lang a much needed 3 points. Manager Andy Cunningham
was without Jim Kavanagh and Kenny Balmain , once again it was all change at
the back. Mattie Coulter and Graeme Doak came into the starting line up, Billy
Holmes, who has missed the last few games, made it onto the bench, John
Mitchell too dropped to the bench.
Both teams had met earlier in the
Sectional League Cup QuarterFinal which resulted in a 5-4 penalty shoot out win
for the home side.
The home side started brightly
and tested Wardlaw on 5 minutes, Stirrat firing in a shot that the keeper did
well to stop. Larkhall's McAninch picked up an early booking for pulling down
Maxwell. Watson went close for the visitors but his blistering drive shaved the
cross bar. Cambuslang opened the scoring on 12 minutes, Stuart Gauley sent over
a deep cross that was met at the back post by Paterson and his header found the
net, despite an attempted goal line clearance, the assistant referee was right
up with play and had no hesitation in awarding the goal.After the goal, Cambuslang
dominated for a short time without creating anything & as the half
progressed Thistle started to take control with the ball invariably in the
visitors half. In fact, a well worked free kick, where the ball was played into
the onrushing Derek Gardiner, found the big man in acres of space, but his shot
was parried by the keeper. Andy Essler was working hard down the left & his
crosses gave the visitors problems with a couple of headers just over the bar.
The home side should have
equalised minutes later but another fine stop by Wardlaw kept them at bay.
Gauley cut inside the full back before firing just over the bar. Then Paterson
shot inches over from 20 yards.
H-T 0-1
The next 45 minutes saw Larkhall
dominate for long spells with Cambuslang pegged back in their own half. Andy
Essler saw a great shot saved & put out for a corner by keeper Wardlaw
early in the half & not long thereafter from a good cross John Wilkinson
shot just past the right hand post. The ball was being played into the visitor's
box incessantly without any success as the Rangers defenders threw themselves
at everything. A further chance fell to Wilkinson who shot past the keeper only
to see it come back off the cross bar. Cambuslang's Taylor found himself in the
referee's notebook for a late challenge on Essler. The miss of the match came
on 65 minutes when Jarvie somehow headed over the bar while standing on the
goal line, a let off to say the least. Gauley could have wrapped up the match
but a last gasp dive by the keeper knocked the ball away, as he was about to
shoot for goal. Cambuslang replaced the hard working Paterson with Mitchell in
an attempt to run down the clock. In the final minute the home side should have
grabbed a share of the points but another poor header from 3 yards went over
the bar.
Line ups
Larkhall
McCulloch, Stirrat, Doyle, Lynch,
Gardiner, Bovill, McAninch, Bovill, Watret, Wilkinson, Essler
Subs from Jarvie, Wylie,
Campbell, Dunbar.
Cambuslang
Wardlaw, Doak, Taylor, Coulter,
Watson, Richardson, Gauley, Paterson ( Mitchell 86), Daisley, Devanney &
Maxwell
Subs not used Dunn, McDougall,
Holmes & Gilhaney