League leaders Vics net hat-trick of wins

Sep 11 2008 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

BLANTYRE Vics have made an excellent start to their season, racing to the top of the Central League Second Division with three wins from as many starts.

Tucked in behind them on seven points are unbeaten Forth Wanderers, and Royal Albert are fourth with six points from their two games.

Close-season signing Gary Espener grabbed Vics’ 75th-minute winner against Dunipace, and delighted boss Willie Harvey said: “The sides were evenly matched but when a chance came along we took it, something we hadn’t been doing last season.

“A draw would probably have been a fair result but I think we created the more obvious chances and on that basis we deserved to win. Kevin Coyle incredibly got his foot up to block a late top-corner attempt and Dunipace claimed the ball was over the line.”

Vics will have new defender Barry McKenzie – signed from Vale of Clyde – in their squad for the table-top clash at Forth, who bounced back to form with a 3-1 win at Stonehouse.

Manager Paul Anderson said: “Having Eddie McGuinness, Stephen Ferguson and Colin Kelly back made a massive difference, and it was a 100 per cent. improvement on the previous week.

“Now, if we can beat Blantyre, we can go top of the league and that is a great incentive.”

Gordon Murphy scored the first goal from a free-kick and provided a corner for Kelly to notch the second. He then sent a through-ball for Ferguson to add the third.

Stonehouse manager Brian Martin said: “We lost the first two goals to dead-ball situations which were down to not marking the back-post areas.

“I’m trying to rebuild the squad but it hasn’t helped having three players on holiday and five injured, especially as John McShane and Chris Strain look like being out of action for about four or five weeks.”

Barry Murdoch was again the ace in Royal Albert’s pack, scoring twice in their 3-2 win over Carluke Rovers.

After Rovers had opened the scoring, Murdoch beat a couple of men and cut inside to drill in the equaliser, David Menelaws made it 2-1, and Steven Dornan created a chance which Murdoch curled into the top corner.

Manager Iain McCluskie said: “We’re suffering from nose-bleeds this high up in the league.

“It was a very good performance, apart from the first 20 minutes when we were poor and could easily have been two down.

“That’s only two games played and we’re not getting carried away, but it’s easier to look at being fourth-top rather than second-bottom.”

James Nisbet, who has been on holiday, and knee injury victim Scott McLachlan expect to be back for Saturday’s home game against St Roch’s.

But Johnny Lippiatt and David Dickson are both out with knee injuries.

Wishaw drew 1-1 at Shettleston, while the Newmains United v Glasgow Perthshire clash was postponed.