Blantyre Vics boss hits out at the ‘bully boy’ tactics of visitors

Nov 27 2008 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

BLANTYRE Vics shrugged off Greenock’s ‘bully-boy’ tactics to win 2-0 at Castle Park to consolidate their lead at the top of the Central League First Division.

Victory meant Vics created a three-point cushion with three games in hand over second-placed Shettleston.

And Forth Wanderers clung on to the promotion pack with their 3-1 home win over a vastly improved Wishaw side.

Blantyre boss Willie Harvey blasted: “I was disappointed in Greenock’s tactics and if they think they can come to Castle Park and bully us they can think again.

“But I was really proud of my boys on Saturday. We played well and deserved to win.”

Paddy Masterton, in his comeback game, scored after 20 minutes with help from Gary Espener, who then added a clinching second in 75 minutes.

Forth kept their promotion hopes very much alive on Saturday and delighted manager Paul Anderson said: “The first-half display was probably the best we’ve played all season. The second half was a big difference as Wishaw came more into the game.”

David Stillie headed the opener from a corner in 15 minutes, and Gordon Murphy headed a second on the half-hour mark.

New signing Dom Sloan, formerly with Kilsyth and Cumbernauld, hit a great volley from 25 yards and in the closing stages David Lynch showed great persistence to finish off a move he had started.

Ahead of the visit by third-placed Glasgow Perthshire on Saturday Forth have doubts over Mark Napier, with an ankle injury.

Injury-free Wishaw are away to second-placed Shettleston.

Royal Albert claimed three points despite turning in a “shocking performance” according to boss Iain McCluskie, as Scott McLachlan capitalised on a defensive slip to score the only goal of the game at Stonehouse Violet.

Stonehouse, who have suffered a number of call-offs recently, believe this was reflected in their play, although defender Jim McGowan’s 30th-minute red card didn’t help.

New signings Paul Brown from Cambuslang and Mario Rea from Shettleston made their debuts.

Carluke Rovers disappopintly lost their match 2-0 at home to Dunipace.

The result left manager Whitey Moffat decrying the missed chances his his team created throughout the match.

And the boss said that he was also unhappy with the attitude of some of his players.

“During the game Stewart Arnott twice hit the bar with the score at 0-0,” he said. “We’re not having the best of luck.”