Lanark book their place in cup final

Jul 23 2009 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

GRANT Cuthill was the hero as holders Lanark United clinched a Clydesdale Challenge Cup final place with a hard-fought win over Carluke Rovers on Monday.

Cuthill latched onto a Chris Cairney cross for the game’s only goal in 30 minutes, setting up a Moor Park clash with Lesmahagow in Monday’s final.

’Gow dumped Forth Wanderers 2-1 in Tuesday’s second semi-final, setting up a hectic schedule of four games in five days.

And that sets up the first of two Lanark v Lesmahagow ties inside 48 hours, with the sides also due to meet in the Sectional League Cup on Wednesday.

Both sides had new faces in their ranks and while Carluke moved the ball about well in midfield it was Lanark who created the lion’s share of the chances.

Manager John McVeigh said: “We had more chances than the result suggests and I think we should have won more comfortably. It was a bit better than Saturday, but still not anywhere near what I’m looking for.”

McVeigh added: “Young Chris Cairney had a few good chances and probably in four weeks’ time, once he sharpens up, these would be goals and that would prove we’ve got a good acquisition.

“Rab Coulter was solid at the back and Tommy Lennox gave a performance that suggests he will be a good signing, so I’m pleased – up to a point.

“As games go on players will get to know the professionalism I’m trying to instil here. I’ve a saying that you only need to tell a good player once.”

Carluke boss Whitey Moffat said: “I thought we acquitted ourselves well against a Super Premier League side and on play I thought we were worthy of a draw over the 90 minutes. We made one major mistake in the whole game and we were punished for it.

“I felt new guys Sean Quinn and James McGowan did well – so too did young James Miller.

“John Savage had an excellent first half, but after taking a bad leg cut he drifted out of the game in the second half.”

The quality of football in the first half of Tuesday’s semi-final was a vast improvement on Monday’s offering, but a downpour during an extended interval break changed all that – with the third quarter of the game played in torrential rain, thunder and lightning.

Nikki Sullivan, who had a few outings for Forth last season, opened the scoring after 18 minutes from the spot, after Stewart Livingstone had been upended.

Gordon Murphy levelled in 60 minutes with a powerful header from Davie Grant’s cross, but Livingstone grabbed what proved to be the winner 10 minutes later, converting Jim Moore’s cross.

Robert Irving, ’Gow’s assistant manager, said: “It’s a win, and we’re into another final. If the way we played in the first half is anything to go by, we’re happy.

“Now we face games on Saturday and Sunday in the Lugar Tournament, the Clydesdale Cup final at Lanark on Monday, and the opening Sectional League Cup tie at home to Lanark on Wednesday.”

Forth boss John McGhee commented: “Considering that’s our first game and we’re still trying to get the team to do what we want them to, it looked all right – but we looked naive at times.

“I want us to play the way we did in the first 20 minutes or so – to get the ball down, pass it, get round wide areas – but after we conceded a goal we lost our composure and shape.”