Thorniewood United beat Larkhall Thistle 2-1 in the Central League First Division’s only game of the weekend, climbing three league places.

Mar 4 2010 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

THORNIEWOOD United claimed three precious points on Saturday and climbed three places in the Central League First Division.

In the league’s only surviving game, United’s 2-1 win over 10-man Thistle hoisted the Viewpark side above the three-club relegation zone.

But it was a day of mixed emotions for striker Darren Miller and defender Mark Daly, in what was only United’s second game in nine weeks.

United got off to a whirlwind start and with barely two minutes gone Barry McGowan cushioned a cross which Miller met first time at the edge of the box to volley them into the lead.

Thistle equalised in 23 minutes when Davie Menelaws’s 20-yard drive deflected off Daly and flew past goalkeeper Martin Fusari.

Kevin Carson and Menelaws headed over as Jags searched for a second, and Tom McLaughlin sent a 35-yarder screaming inches over before Joe Doyle was red-carded for elbowing Des Bradshaw in the face.

United were the better side in the second half and created several chances before Daly notched an 83rd-minute winner from close range.

But the drama didn’t end there.

Miller had been cautioned for a corner-flag confrontation midway through the half which could just as easily have resulted in a red card.

And as the game drifted into time added on Miller was given a second booking for his involvement in a touchline clash just yards from the dug-outs.

Larkhall central defender Grant Carson was shown a straight red for his part in the incident.

Thistle boss Paul Anderson said: “We got what we deserved, especially as half the team simply didn’t turn up for what I reckon was one of the worst games of the season so far.

“I thought it was fairly even in the first half until we lost a man just before half-time – but it seemed more like we were missing five players, because some of them just didn’t seem to be trying.”

He added: “Thorniewood probably showed enough in the second half to merit the points. They had 25 corners in that period, so there was always a chance they would get a goal.

“We didn’t mark the obvious players at the first goal, and the second was due to slack marking – although it was a well-struck shot.

“Four of our regular midfield – Steve McInulty, Stephen Donaghy, Harry McLachlan and Allan Watson – were all missing, but that’s not an excuse.

“The players who came in should have been able to do a better job than they did.”

Thorniewood co-manager John Fallon said: “It was a hard-fought game and when you’re down there you need a bit of luck – we got it in the end, and just about deserved to win.

“This was a good result and a boost to our league position – I hope it helps us to develop a winning mentality again because that’s six points we’ve taken from Larkhall this season.

“The likes of Shotts, Cumbernauld and St Anthony’s are home and dry – it’s the teams round about us in the league that are our ‘bread and butter’ games.

“It was good to win, and trouble the teams near us who didn’t play at the weekend.”

He added: ““We’re just glad we eventually got a game; apart from one against Port Glasgow three weeks ago, our previous fixture was on December 12.

“Hopefully we’ll get a run of games now instead of having a backlog at the end of the season.”

Top scorer Stephen Mullen – who became a dad a fortnight ago – was missing from the weekend line-up for personal and work reasons, but Fallon described the striker as “vital” for the league run-in.