Larkhall Thistle triumph after last minute goal

Nov 19 2009

LARKHALL Thistle for the second successive Saturday were again involved in a last minute decider when Davie Menelaws snatched the last gasp winner at Cambuslang Rangers in the Central League First Division.

Manager Paul Anderson said: "It was such a complete change of emotions - last week we lost to an injury-time goal at Thorniewood - this week, we won with a last minute goal.

"Kevin Budanaukas was again outstanding in goal. I thought he was partly at fault for the first goal but produced six to seven unbelievable saves - he was phenomenal.

"And at the other end of park, new signing David Carr was in brilliant form, scoring one and had 'an assist' in the two others."

Steve Donaghy drilled in a Carr cross to give Thistle a first minute lead but Rangers levelled the score by half-time.

Carr, in his second stint at Gasworks Park, headed in a Donaghy cross to put Thistle 2-1 ahead.

Manager Anderson said: "It was a brave effort by David who kept going for goal with big goalie Jon Connelly bearing down on him."

Cambuslang equalised with about 20 minutes to go, and in the dying seconds Menelaws headed in a Carr cross to clinch the three points.

The win which hoists Larkhall up three places to eighth position was not achieved without a cost as striker Joe Shields was carried off with an ankle injury and central defender Kevin Carson limped off with a groin injury.

Blantyre Vics came within nine minutes of toppling Central First Division leaders St Anthony's on their own ground after the game was switched to the city ground when Castle Park was ruled unplayable

Stephen McGurgan fired Vics into a ninth minute lead with a shot into the bottom corner and Michael Docherty doubled that lead on the 25 minutes when he followed up to net a shot the keeper had parried.

Vics were looking comfortable at the start of the second half as Paul Mallon put a drive just wide of goal and a Gary Espener shot was deflected.

Then with nine minutes to go Vics crashed.

Manager Willie Harvey said; "We totally collapsed.

“We have a young inexperienced team and I think it was down to naivety which showed as we were kept charging forward.

"I was screaming at them from the touchline to put a foot on it, slow it down, slide the ball out for a shy - that's where we needed an 'old head' to slow it down, disrupt the flow of the game and play out time and in the end this was to be our downfall.

"We had to take off Andy Dorrans with a leg knock, which was another blow because Andy is good at holding up the ball and 'taking it for a walk' to the corners.

"Then in 81 minutes, Espener lost possession in the middle of the park and the ball was fired up the park and in at the back post.

“ The second goal was an indentikit version, and the winner took two deflections off Mark Batchelor and Anton Rodgers."

Harvey added: "It was really disappointing - it really hurt.

“For so much of the game we played as well as we have played this season but we badly needed someone to hold up play."

Victory would have lifted Vics up four places into sixth position.