Wishaw triumph 5-1 over Forth Wanderers

Mar 11 2010 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

DAMIAN Devanney hit a hat-trick as 10-man Wishaw kept up their form run by routing Forth Wanderers 5-1 in the Central League Second Division.

And James McGill also hit a treble as Royal Albert rattled up a 3-1 win at Carluke Rovers.

Delighted Wishaw manager Alex Young said: “We played really well; that’s only one defeat in our last five matches and we’re beginning to show a bit of form.

“But we had a few problems to deal with; James McBride was sent off after 40 minutes for two cheap bookings.

“Graham Stewart was also caught when he tried an overhead kick and had to come off for treatment for a head injury.

“He wanted to go back on but didn’t last long before we took him back off and he had four staples put in his head wound at Wishaw General.

“And our coach Gary McGrotty damaged his hamstring while setting up the first goal and had to come off.”

Devanney headed Wishaw into a two-goal interval lead and added a third in the second half.

Barry Canning pulled one back for Forth but his joy was short-lived as he was shown a second yellow card a few minutes later.

Billy Brawley netted the fourth direct from a free-kick and from his second set-piece James Coffey slid the ball into the net for Wishaw’s fifth.

Forth boss John McGhee groaned: “We got what we deserved. I told the players before the game that if we showed the right attitude we would win, but if we didn’t we would lose, as Wishaw are an aggressive side.”

Forth have released ex-St Roch’s striker Allan Cameron, who wants to return to amateur football, but hope to sign Wishaw’s Lindsay Nisbet in time for Saturday’s home match against Carluke.

Royal Albert deserved their three points as McGill grabbed their goals.

His first was a back-post header from a corner. McGill then latched onto a James Nesbit through-ball, and completed the job by beating three men before firing home.

Albert boss Iain McCluskie said: “It was a good performance. Our fitness levels were good and the lads have done well to keep themselves in good shape during the lay-off.”

Carluke boss Whitey Moffat said: “We were still rusty after the lay-off but Albert were the better team and deserved to win.”

Rovers were missing captain Mark Weir, goalkeeper Peter Macfarlane, defender Andy Noble, midfielder John Savage and strikers Stewart Arnott and Steve Ferguson.

Moffat added: “John Savage was given a one-match suspension way back in December – this was his first chance to serve it.”

Noble, Weir and Savage expect to be back to face Forth, but Arnott has a torn calf muscle, which could keep him out for up to six weeks.

Rovers’ first fundraiser organised by their newly boosted committee – a race night on Friday – raised over £1000.

Newmains United, whose scheduled home fixture against Benburb was postponed, are due to play Yoker at Victoria Park this weekend.