Lanarkshire junior clubs in action

Sep 1 2011 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

BLANTYRE Vics held on to top spot in the Central League Second Division following their comfortable 3-0 home win over newcomers Rossvale at Castle Park.

Lesmahagow, with two straight wins, hold a goal-difference advantage over Carluke Rovers and Wishaw, as the three clubs share joint-second place.

But when it comes to high-scoring fixtures Forth Wanderers are out in front after putting nine past Stonehouse Violet, with Kenny Wright and Brian Felvus both grabbing hat-tricks.

Blantyre manager Alan Shields said: “We played really well. I didn’t know much about Rossvale until I received a couple of reports around lunch-time.

“As we are the team coming down that makes us a target for clubs to prove themselves, so I challenged the players to show a desire and the bottle to see it through – and got a very positive response.”

Brian Welsh scored from a scrambled effort midway through the first half and Jamie McCarroll doubled that lead from the spot after Lee Pettigrew was fouled.

Graham Shanks added a third from a free-kick.

Shields hopes to have striker Chris McGarry and Paul Gray available for Saturday’s game at Forth after they recovered from ligament and rib injuries, respectively.

Lesmahagow manger Robert Irving emerged from Saturday’s 3-1 win at Maryhill with mixed emotions.

He explained: “That’s three years running we’ve won at Maryhill – but some of the sparkle has been taken off the win by an injury to goalkeeper and captain Stewart Thomson, who damaged knee ligaments when he fell awkwardly after 15 minutes.

“Darren Jaffrey took over in goal and the defence did extremely well to give him excellent cover and support, and the young lad who came in at left-back, Lewis Brown, had a hand in two of the three goals.”

Maryhill scored in four minutes but James Whyte finished a good Brown-Nicky Sullivan move to equalise.

Liam Fagan pounced to make it 2-1 after Barry Murdoch’s shot was blocked, then John Barclay headed in a Brown cross to round off the scoring.

Carluke Rovers bounced back from an early goal to take a 2-1 interval lead against Johnstone Burgh.

Andy Barr equalised from a well-taken free-kick and Mark Weir fired them ahead from the spot after Darren Hamilton had been fouled.

Hamilton was also involved in the lead-up work for the clinching third with a pass that Jamie Dickson fired home.

Manager Colin Slater said: “I was quite pleased. We had some good early pressure and after our first three games we’ve come back from an opening day defeat to move into third place.

“Top scorer Stewart Arnott pulled up with a strain during the warm-up and hopefully he will be fit for Saturday, but John Savage will be out for up to four weeks with a torn muscle.”

Forth Wanderers romped home 9-0 runaway winners at Stonehouse, as former Motherwell striker Kenny Wright and ex-Lanark trialist Brian Felvus both hit hat-tricks.

Tony Traynor bagged a brace and sub Kris Jarvie rounded off the scoring at nine.

Manager Jamie McKenzie said: “We started reasonably well and kept up the pressure.

“The players went about their play in a very professional manner and snapped up the chances they created.

“It will be a different story against Blantyre, who have plenty of pace, and we will give them the respect they deserve as league-leaders.

“But if we play as well as we can, we will make a game of it.”

Stonehouse Violet were missing eight regulars against Forth and were reduced to 10 men on the half-hour mark when goalkeeper Scott Irvine was sent off and sub keeper Daniel Terry – listed as an outfield player – took over in goal.

Manager Dougie MacDuff said: “These things happen in football but the fact that I have a number of good players to come back gives me something to look forward to for the next game.”

Missing were long-term crocks Craig Munro and Steve Baird, Adam Taylor and Lee Sweeney, who picked up an eye infection, defenders Steve Gemmell and George Paterson (holidays), Dougie Adair (working) and Darren Sheeran, who was at a wedding.

Wishaw won the first league derby of the season when they beat Newmains United 2-1.

Michael Clark hit the opener, with former Newmains striker David Hamilton notching the clinching second.

Royal Albert found themselves on the receiving end of some debatable decisions – and a couple of red cards – as they went down 2-1 at St Roch’s.

Manager Iain McCluskie, who was sent off, was followed in the closing stages by assistant John McDonald.

He said: “We played not too badly and I thought we deserved a draw.

“On play it was a game which could have done either way.”

The home side scored first but David Pow equalised and Albert were hit by a second goal which McCluskie argues was “at least 10 yards offside.”

St Roch’s made it 3-1 before Michael Clark pulled a goal back.