Carluke Rovers' player Weir claims winner over Benburb

Sep 17 2009 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

CHEEKY Mark Weir is claiming a wonder winner after Carluke Rovers clocked up their second victory in three starts to move into fifth place in the Central League Second Division.

But Rovers boss Whitey Moffat hinted that Weir may struggle to receive official recognition for the clincher in Saturday’s 3-2 win over Benburb.

He explained: “Five minutes from time, with the score 2-2, Mark took a free-kick on the half-way line, firing the ball high into the goal area.

“The keeper tried to punch clear, got a hand to it, and succeeded only in punching it higher into the net – but Mark is claiming it as his goal!”

One that can definitely be attributed to Weir was his opener after just three minutes when he surged through from midfield to score.

Bens equalised in 15 minutes, but Stephen Ferguson gave Rovers a 2-1 lead on the half-hour – only for the visitors to level again five minutes later.

Moffat added: “It was a good result. We played quite well, using the 4-3-3 formation we finished with the previous week. Mark’s goal gave us a great start.”

Crocked midfielders Pat McAuley and John Savage could return for the game against Yoker on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Moffat this week welcomed back James Miller, who was previously on loan from Stenhousemuir, after the young midfielder’s temporary spell with Camelon didn’t work out.

Royal Albert lost 4-2 at St Roch’s, but manager Iain McCluskie’s anger and frustration was focused more on the referee.

He blasted: “Two players were standing together and there wasn’t a tackle, but a player drew his foot down Scott McLachlan’s leg and now my guy has a 12-inch scar from his thigh to kneecap... but the referee did or said nothing!

“We then had James Duris sent off for two bookable offences and that was fair enough – it was right that he went off – but one of their players did exactly the same thing and the referee did nothing about it.”

Kenny Keenan gave Albert an early lead but missed opportunities saw Saints take a 2-1 lead.

At 3-1 Duris was sent off and James McGill provided brief hope when he pulled a goal back, but the hosts added a killer fourth.

Forth Wanderers lost 4-2 at Johnstone Burgh despite taking an early lead through Marc Napier after just 10 minutes. Burgh levelled from the spot seconds before the break and went 2-1 ahead in the second half, with Kevin Docherty – signed from St Roch’s before the game – levelling with a header 12 minutes from time.

Manager John McGhee said: “At 2-2 we had a chance when a Docherty cross fell to Gordon Murphy, but it landed on his ‘wrong’ side.

“Had he scored then I’m sure we would have gone on to win. Instead they scored a third then a late fourth to wrap up the points.”

Wishaw crashed 7-1 at home to Greenock as they played out the final quarter with 10 men when central defender Derek Ralston limped off after all three substitutes had been used, and Wanderers cashed in to add three more goals.

Manager Alex Young sighed: “It was a diabolical performance. Paddy Hughes scored a consolation goal with the score at 5-0.”

Defender John Barclay took a head knock after five minutes but played on – then collapsed on the park and had to be taken to Wishaw General Hospital where he was kept in overnight, put on a drip and given a scan.

Happily he was allowed home on Sunday.