Lanark United win Clydesdale Challenge Cup for a record-breaking 13th time

Aug 5 2010 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

TWO second-half goals earned Lanark United their 13th Clydesdale Challenge Cup win in 15 years with a 2-0 win over Lesmahagow at Moor Park on Monday night.

Following a largely uneventful first half the final kicked into life three minutes after the restart when midfielder Paul Woods scored a superb goal, confidently jinking past several defenders before sending a left-foot drive low into the far corner.

Stuart Tullis fired two efforts a foot off target and Woods was denied a second goal when his shot struck Tullis and was deflected wide as Lanark began to take command.

Captain Davie Gray made sure that it would be his hands on the trophy when he tapped in a close-range second in 64 minutes, after a Tullis drive had ben parried in a crowded penalty box, following a corner on the left.

Lanark manager Tam McDonald said: “Woods’s goal was excellent – it was worth the drive up to Lanark just to watch it, but I was a wee bit disappointed that we only scored two after creating a lot of chances in the second half.

“We’re getting there slowly as we try to build up for Saturday, August 21 and the opening game against Auchinleck, which is the big one.”

Lesmahagow were down to 10 men for the last half-hour after Jim Moore was shown a second yellow card.