Lanark continue to aim for promotion despite slump

May 8 2008

PROMOTION and even the Central League First Division championship remain realistic targets for Lanark United, despite a major form slump.

And Larkhall bounced back from their 5-0 drubbing by table-toppers Ashfield to beat Dunipace 3-1 on Monday night and secure their Central League First Division status.

But Blantyre Vics are relegated after managing only a 0-0 draw away to Cumbernauld United.

Lanark needed a dramatic late penalty equaliser to take a point from outside promotion contenders Port Glasgow, but them slumped to a 3-2 defeat at Yoker.

Port netted on the hour but going into the last five minutes, Tom Hanlon was pulled down in the box as he waited to pounce after a Grant Cuthill shot had been charged down by the keeper. Tommy Franch slotted the spot-kick.

Goals by Franch and Craig Stark handed United a 2-1 lead at Yoker on Monday, but they were floored by two goals in 15 minutes.

Lanark have now dropped 10 points from their last four games, and manager Tony McInally said:

“Earlier in the season we played worse and won, and I’ve got confidence in the players to come through this.

“Mathematically we still need six points and if we can’t take at least that from games against Cumbernauld, St Anthony’s and Glencairn, who have nothing to play for, then we don’t deserve to go up as champions.”

Craig Miles, Steve McCluskey and Kieron Downs were due to return to the side last night (Wednesday), while David Middle will be back on Saturday.

Despite their weekend drubbing, Larkhall manager Bobby Crilly was a contented man on Monday as goals from Brian Watret, Scott Dunsmore and Alan Pike saw off Dunipace.

And he said: “We’ve achieved our main aim for this season, to consolidate after being relegated twice in a row.

“Hopefully we can keep this group together and add to it during the close-season.”

On Saturday Larkhall trailed 2-0 after 17 minutes, and Paul Ross was red-carded, then Scott Dunsmore saw red at 4-0.

Furious Crilly rounded on referee Ian Craig and said: “I was embarrassed to be involved in junior football on Saturday because some decisions by the match official were absolutely shocking.

“Five players swore at the referee during the first half and only one was ours, but he was sent off.

“There was only one bad tackle in the game, and that was after two minutes when Brian Eadie was the victim, but the offending player wasn’t even spoken to.”

Blantyre Vics will spend the close-season counting the cost of missed chances.

Manager Willie Harvey said: “The Cumbernauld game is another one we should have won. We missed umpteen chances, including a penalty, in the first half and that would have been enough to put it to bed.

“We can’t score goals and it has cost us dearly, because that’s us officially relegated.

“Now we’ve got to regroup and take comfort from Cambuslang, who went down but came straight back up.”