Central League Second Division round-up.

Sep 2 2010 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

SCOTT McLACHLAN was the unlikely hero for Royal Albert as his late winner at Lesmahagow earned his side their first league win of the season.

Albert hitman James McGill responded to being taken off the transfer list by grabbing the opening goal.

Then four great chances fell to McLachlan but all were spurned and things didn’t look good for Albert when ex-Accies midfielder Ally Graham drilled in the equaliser for Gow, who had Barry Murdoch red-carded and Scott McEwan stretchered off with a broken collar bone.

But McLachlan had the last laugh as he slid in to score with virtually the last kick of the ball to push his side into fourth place, behind Yoker and Benburb on goal difference.

Ecstatic Albert manager Iain McCluskey said: “We played very well. We’re getting better and ground out a result that I thought was thoroughly deserved, and puts us right up there in the league.”

Lesmahagow boss Robert Irving, who this week released defender Mark Weir and transfer-listed former Hamilton striker Ross McGeachie, said: “We started off quite well and we had a lot of good passing but without a cutting edge in the final third of the park.

“We played poorer at Carluke last week and won.”

Murdoch’s red card means he will miss Saturday’s game against Newmains, along with Darren Jaffrey, who is on holiday.

Meanwhile, CARLUKE ROVERS romped home 3-0 winners at home to Maryhill, with manager Whitey Moffat describing the scoring spree as “three of the best goals in any one game I’ve seen for many years”.

John Savage volleyed the first low into the net before Stewart Arnott let fly from 25 yards for the second.

Not to be outdone, Mark Weir, spotting the goalkeeper off his line, fired a 40-yard drive into the net.

Moffat, who lost centre-half Gary Frame early on to a hamstring string, said: “It was a very good display – I was very pleased with the performance and with the quality of the goals.”

FORTH manager John McGhee was sent to the dressing room by the referee during his side’s 1-1 draw at Yoker on Saturday.

Alistair Murray hit an early opener for Yoker but Forth equalised on the hour mark when Stewart Arnott sent Kris Jarvie clear and his cross was chested down and rifled home by John Osborne.

McGhee quizzed the referee over a couple of decisions before being sent to the dressing room by the official. However, he plans to appeal his ‘red card’.

LARKHALL THISTLE lost 2-0 in front of an intimidating St Roch’s home crowd.

Jags boss Duncan Sinclair was left ruing his side’s bad luck – and a referee who seemed to be influenced by the home support into awarding a penalty.

Kevin Carson’s challenge on a St Roch’s forward, who looked offside, led to a corner, but the Thistle bench were stunned when the referee changed his mind, pointed to the penalty spot and red-carded Carson, who now misses the game against Forth.

A deflected clearance from keeper Davie McEwan lead to St Roch’s killer second.

NEWMAINS UNITED failed to follow up their win at Forth last week as they slumped 3-1 at home to Benburb.