Lanark earn a precious in bid to avoid relegation

Apr 22 2010

LANARK United grabbed a precious point against Irvine Meadow as they bid to haul themselves out of the Super Premier League relegation zone.

But United might still rue the two chances they squandered in the closing minutes of Saturday’s Moor Park clash.

Meadow snatched a fourth-minute lead when Chris Strain found himself in acres of space to fire home.

Tom Hanlon saw a shot blocked before sending a powerful drive inches past, before Tommy Lennox levelled in 12 minutes.

Grant Cuthill put United in front after 14 minutes when a glancing header from a Hanlon free-kick, but that lead lasted barely four minutes before Derek Wingate equalised.

John Osborne had a free-kick tipped over and John Goodwin had sent an effort wide before Meadow hit the post with three minutes to go.

Then Alan McFadden and Mark Quinn squandered good chances when they shot wildly over with team-mates in better positions.

Lanark are at home this weekend to second-top Arthurlie, who on Saturday beat Bellshill Athletic 4-2 at West End Park.

Bellshill took the lead when Brendan Crozier netted from the spot after David Dimilta was brought down in the box.

But a crazy seven-minute spell cost the hosts dearly.

Poor defending allowed Sean Winter to equalise and two minutes later Ian Wilson raced out of this box only to fluff his clearance, allowing Callan Adam to hammer the ball into the empty net.

A mis-hit clearance from Wilson then struck ’Lie’s Craig Malcolm and bounced into the net.

Mark Casey was sent off for a second booking, having committed only two foul tackles.

“To go from 1-0 up to 3-1 down inside seven minutes takes some doing,” sighed manager Danny Drew.

“I told the players that when you play against quality teams you’re only likely to get three or maybe four good chances, so you’ve got to take them.”

Drew added: “We came back after losing the three quick goals to batter Arthurlie and got a goal back through Kieran McAnespie, but when we were pushing forward they hit us on the break to score a fourth.

“We have a great spirit in the dressing room with great effort and commitment from all the guys.”

Bellshill’s scheduled league game against Auchinleck Talbot has been postponed as the Ayrshire side have three players in the Scotland squad playing in Northern Ireland.