Lanark clinch promotion in their last league game

May 21 2008

LANARK United, who set a blistering pace as First Division leaders for so long, dramatically clinched promotion in their last game of the season.

A four-goal first-half spree set them up for a convincing win over Glencairn but Port Glasgow’s win over Dunipace in their final game saw them step up as champions.

As the victorious players drenched him in celebratory champagne, delighted manager Tony McInally said: “Promotion was well deserved. I’m just a little disappointed that we’re not going up as champions. I thought we were the best team in the league.”

United clocked up an incredible 14-game unbeaten run to create a seven-point cushion before stumbling through an anxious April fortnight.

During that nerve-wracking spell, precious points slipped through the grasp of a side bereft of many regulars through injury, work commitments and suspensions.

That set up Saturday as a `must-win’ game and the players responded to take the points and the passport out of the Central League into the West of Scotland First Division.

McInally said: “Before the game, we spoke about what I was looking for — and the application, attitude and effort I got in return was first class.

“I thought the finishing was clinical. The game was won by half-time and I was delighted with the vesry professional way they went about their job in the second half.

“We don’t have a big squad so I knew we would be limited by the pool we had going into a spate of midweek games.

“It was a concern and we should have won more games during that spell. With hindsight, just one win during that four-game spell and we would be going up as champions.”

Craig Miles set the ball rolling on Saturday after only seven minutes when a Mark Keegans cross was parried by the ‘keeper. Craig reacted with a typical striker’s poaching instinct to squeeze the ball over the line.

A blunder by the Glens ‘keeper saw him drop a cross and Craig pounced to make it Miles better by doubling Lanark’s lead after 40 minutes.

A handling offence gave David Middleton the chance to stroke home a penalty and on the stroke of half-time Kieron Downs headed in a Keegans cross.

Goal hero Miles, who notched his sixth goal in eight days after missing out the first half of the season, said: “We’re all delighted but I thought we should have clinched going up a bit earlier.

“We could hardly have asked for a harder game for our last match of the season but it was a good first half.

“I was out with a torn groin for a while which was a bit of a setback. I’m still feeling short of fitness but I’m chasing big Ozzy [John Osborne] in the goals stakes now. I’m looking forward to adding some in the Central League Cup ties.”

Lanark now move on to the defence of the Central League Cup on Friday night when they play Super First Division runners-up Vale of Clyde at Tollcross.

McInally added: “I’ve watched Vale of Clyde a couple of times and they’re a good footballing side. We’ll go there in confident mood. They’ve also just been promoted so it should make for a good game.”

Larkhall Thistle are paired at home to Forth Wanderers in the third round while Blantyre Vics face First Division champions Port Glasgow at Castle Park.

Shotts Bon Accord are away to Ashfield, who were pipped for promotion as Lanark and Port clocked up last-day wins.

The quarter-final pairings are: Ashfield or Shotts v Shettleston or Kirkintilloch Rob Roy; Blantyre or Port Glasgow v Arthurlie or Stonehouse; Vale of Clyde or Lanark v Renfrew or Cumbernauld, and Larkhall or Forth v Benburb or Yoker.