Blantyre Vics win Division Two title

May 7 2009 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

BLANTYRE VICS clinched the Central League Second Division title in style by running up a 5-0 win at St Roch’s.

And Carluke Rovers, in third place, are poised to step up despite Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Dunipace - but their fate depends on Dunipace’s two remaining results.

However, the club who can play a key role in determining who goes up are Forth Wanderers, who themselves were among the early-season challengers.

Forth produced their best performance of the season on Saturday when a superb Gordon Murphy hat-trick helped them snatch an impressive 3-3 draw at Glasgow Perthshire - and denying ’Shire the win they needed after Thursday’s 3-0 defeat at Carluke allowed promoted Blantyre to claim the title.

On Saturday, Forth are at home to Dunipace who, with two games to play, are six points behind Carluke with a better goal difference.

Vics got off to the perfect start with a goal inside 10 minutes by Ross Fletcher, a product of the club’s under-21 set-up.

They grabbed a second goal a few minutes later when the keeper dropped Fletcher’s shot and Gary Espener was left with a simple tap-in.

Kevin Coyle and John Bulloch combined to set up a third for Espener and substitute James Cochrane hit number four.

Captain Brian Glancy finished off the title-winning season with a great right-foot shot.

Manager Willie Harvey said: “Once we went 3-0 up, there was a fresh confidence about the side as they got the ball down and passed it about. Once we got into the dressing room, we waited. Then I got a call from the Dunipace physio to tell us we were champions!

“Every one in the top group had a blip during the season. Ours looked the worst because it came after a nine-game unbeaten run, while Perthshire’s fall from grace came at the end of the season.

“Three of us had a chance of the title but we were the only ones to stand up on the final day and do what we had to do. That, in my book, makes us deserved champions.”

Carluke produced a slick show to beat Perthshire 3-0 last Thursday – a result which, for 48 hours, put them top of the league.

Manager Whitey Moffat said: “I thought that was one of our most polished performances of the season. Every player did what they were asked to do as we played a good attacking brand of football. There were no failures.

“But it was a big disappointment to lose 2-1 at Dunipace on Saturday – for the players and for the small band of fans who made it to the game. It was an unusually quiet dressing room after the game.”

Moffat added: “There were a lot of tired legs out there. I felt this game came too soon after the demands of Thursday night’s game.

“Dunipace are a big, strong side, and we were 2-0 down after seven minutes.”

Carluke’s goal was scored by veteran Andy Noble with a close-in effort off a corner.

Moffat continued: “I said to the players ‘if I told you at the turn of the year, when we were second bottom, that we would be in this position now, what would your response have been?’

“But all credit to them – they’ve done their part and now it’s an anxious wait, knowing that it’s now out of our hands. We just hope Forth can do us a favour on Saturday against Dunipace!”

Gordon Murphy fired Forth into a two-goal lead at Glasgow Perthshire as he latched onto John Currie passes to drill the ball into the bottom corner.

Forth scored a third but it was at the wrong end as Eddie McGuinness’s passback ended up in his own net.

’Shire made it 2-2 at the break and then snatched an early second-half lead but Paul Murphy equalised in 80 minutes.

Forth boss Paul Anderson said: “Gordon could have had a fourth but the keeper pulled off a couple of late great saves.

“That’s 11 goals this season and 50 in his two-and-a-half seasons at Forth – which is not bad for a left-sided midfielder. Gordon’s been very consistent all season and has been outstanding in every game since the turn of the year. His link-up play with Marc Napier on Saturday was the best I’ve seen from any two midfielders in a long time.”

Early second-half goals from Willie Stannage and a Gary Murdoch penalty ensured Newmains took a point at home to Greenock, who equalised in injury time.

Manager Ian Rankin said: “I thought we were a bit flat. To lose a goal in injury-time meant it felt more like a defeat than a draw but on our second-half show I thought we deserved to win.”

Newmains beat Forth 3-2 on Monday, while Royal Albert won 3-2 at St Roch’s.