Lesmahagow bid to stave off relegation as Shotts gun for title.

Feb 11 2010 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

LESMAHAGOW grabbed a precious point in their relegation battle – and Saturday’s 2-2 draw knocked St Anthony’s off the top of the Central League First Division.

Shotts fired in five against Dunipace to tuck themselves two points behind joint-leaders Cumbernauld (who are ahead on goal-difference) and St Anthony’s.

And with the top two clashing head-on this weekend, Shotts have an additional incentive to beat ’Gow at Hannah Park – they would leap-frog their rivals should the top two draw.

A Cumbernauld win would also put Shotts in second-top – should they beat ’Gow – one point ahead of Ants with two games in hand.

Lesmahagow seized an early lead when Ross McGeachie pounced on a long clearance from goalkeeper Stewart Thomson to drill the ball into the net.

’Gow’s poor defending at a corner saw Ants draw level before half-time and McGeachie, Steve Cunningham, John Logan and Nicky Sullivan wasted second-half chances before the visitors grabbed the lead.

But four minutes into stoppage time McGeachie was fouled when he was about to level, and Sullivan slotted home a spot-kick equaliser.

Straight from kick-off the ball broke to Kevin McDade but he was denied a dramatic winner on his second ’Gow debut.

Assistant manager Robert Irving said: “It was another good performance, carrying on from where we left off against Cambuslang.

“We’re not making excuses but due to work and injuries we were missing Lee Black, Craig Easton, Barry Murdoch and Matthew Aymard.”

Black and Murdoch look doubtful for the game at Shotts.

Irving added: “It will be difficult but sometimes it’s easier to lift your game against teams above you than those below.”

Shotts stretched their unbeaten league run to eight games with a 5-0 rout of Dunipace.

Mark Duffy grabbed a hat-trick inside a devastating 15-minute spell in the second half, with Stevie Barker providing ammunition for all three.

Manager Tony McInally said: “I was really pleased on Saturday. They played really well, at a high tempo, and with aggression.

“It says a lot for our performance that we scored five and their goalkeeper was man of the match.”

A Paul McLaughlin shot was parried and Billy Russell slid in to open the scoring.

Duffy’s early second-half hat-trick had Shotts coasting before Paul Jack netted from a Barker cross to complete the scoring – with sub Kevin Barr missing a late penalty.

Shotts have fitness doubts over Barr, Barker, David Taylor, Graham Irvine – out for a month with a broken foot – and Iain Wallace. Only the first two are likely to make the squad for the visit to Lesmahagow.

Larkhall Thistle’s 6-4 defeat by Cambuslang and Thorniewood’s 1-0 reverse against Port Glasgow has hardly helped their relegation battle.

Thistle saw a reasonable first-half display descend into chaos in the second period as a 4-2 lead turned into a 6-4 loss.

Thistle’s goals were scored by Davie Menelaws (2), David Carr and Alan Shields.

Manager Paul Anderson said: “We had been defending quite well but all the season’s mistakes seemed to come in one afternoon as we lost four goals in a disastrous 20-minute spell.

“It will be a difficult game against Dunipace on Saturday but we’ve got to start winning to get ourselves clear of our current position.”

Despite the defeat, Thorniewood player-boss John Fallon was in optimistic mood.

He said: “I couldn’t be happier with the performance.

“The goal came from a soft penalty that even the Port Glasgow officials were laughing at.

“We’re playing well but we’ve got to start winning games and getting points on the board to ease our current position.”

In that aim, United have brought in former Accies full-backs Alan Holmes and Brian Lowe.

Blantyre Vics lost 2-0 at home to Cumbernauld and on Saturday travel to Port Glasgow.