Lanark united extend lead in promotion boost

Oct 16 2008 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

FEW county clubs escaped the Saturday morning call-offs, but two who did boosted their promotion plans with good home wins.

Lanark United, with a game in hand over their two nearest rivals, consolidated their two-point lead in the Super League First Division with a 3-2 win over Kilsyth Rangers.

And Shotts Bon Accord produced a comfortable 2-0 win over Clydebank to claim second spot on goal-difference after third-placed Maybole drew 1-1 at home to Largs.

Saturday was a day Lanark’s young strikers Davie McGuire and Craig Miles won’t forget.

Within 90 seconds of kick-off they were in collision but recovered after treatment to grab two first-half goals between them.

The effects of the knocks crept up on them, however, and Miles was subbed at the break, and McGuire hauled off seven minutes later.

Darren Jaffrey and Craig Stark linked to create the chance for Miles to tuck away in 26 minutes.

McGuire nipped in on a through-ball from new signing Kevin McDade 11 minutes later to make it 2-0, and Miles then had a shot cleared off the line.

Max Asante pulled a goal back for Kilsyth in 63 minutes, and 11 minutes later Tommy Franch had a glorious chance.

After his shot was parried by the keeper he stepped round the grounded goalie, but his left-foot shot was blocked by a defender, amid howls for hand-ball.

But seven minutes later Franch made amends when he slotted home the clinching third.

Former Larkhall Thistle striker Andy Thomson pulled one back with three minutes left and in the dying seconds goalkeeper Craig Brown was forced into a full-length save to deny a last-gasp equaliser.

Assistant boss Stewart Ralston, in charge while Tony McInally was on holiday, said:

“I thought we played well and made enough chances to win the game more comfortably than we did in the end.

“We put ourselves under pressure after losing two good strikes from a Kilsyth point of view, but they were sloppy goals as far as we were concerned.

“This was a good team effort. The groundsman made a great effort to get the pitch ready and the players collected three points without managing to hit top form.”

Lanark take a break from league action this weekend when they visit Whitletts Vics in the West of Scotland Cup second round, hoping to emulate Blantyre Vics’ success there in the Scottish Cup on Saturday.

Shotts fielded the same side that took five off Girvan the week before, but had to rely on some clever control and finishing from John Goodwin to give them a half-time lead.

They recovered to win 2-0 and boss Duncan Sinclair said: “I thought we played erratically in the first half, but in the second we kept the ball better, passed quicker and created some good chances, playing against a strong wind.”

A good passing move on the left saw Ian Wallace deliver a slide-rule cross for Kevin Barr to net their second at the front post.

Then in the closing stages Alan Smith produced two great saves to deny Bankies a goal.

Sinclair added: “I’ve had a talk with the guys, told them what I’m looking for, and they’ve responded. We had 19 players to pick from – with guys like Mark McKeever, Hugh Kelly and Billy Brolly not even stripped, and that says a lot about the pool we’ve got.”

New signing John Osbourne was withdrawn as a precautionary measure after struggling with a groin strain, but Sinclair expects him to be available for the weekend visit to Port Glasgow.

Bellshill Athletic, whose Super Premier League game at Vale of Clyde was called off, are at home to tail-enders Arthurlie on Saturday.

Tam McDonald’s men have played well in spells recently, but without turning pressure into points.

After slumping 2-0 at home to Petershill, McDonald promised a few hard training sessions to sort out the slips.

Saturday’s postponement has given him an extra week to iron out defensive slips and get the front men to sharpen up their finishing. After that they should be in better shape to take on under-achieving Arthurlie.