Football: Carluke and Lesmahagow claim joint top spot in second division

Sep 8 2011 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

CARLUKE and Lesmahagow hit a baker’s dozen between them to claim joint-top spot in the Central League Second Division.

James Whyte got ’Gow off the mark after just 45 seconds against Stonehouse but Violet stormed back to take a 2-1 lead through Dougie Adair and Sean Cryans.

James Coffey equalised on the stroke of half-time, and ’Gow produced another flying start to seize a 3-2 lead within a minute of the restart through Stevie Clark.

Nicky Sullivan scored to make amends for an earlier penalty miss, and Whyte went on to clinch his hat-trick as Lesmahagow ran out 6-2 winners.

Assistant manager Davie Jackson said: “At half-time, we told the players to be calm and goals would come against a side which conceded nine last time out.

“It was a very comfortable second half as the players responded to our call and went looking for goals.

“It will be a very different proposition this week when we head for Blantyre Vics, who will still be smarting after their 4-0 defeat at Forth.”

Stonehouse manager Dougie MacDuff said: “Considering the number of new young players we had to find and play, I thought we did quite well and can take a few positives from the game.”

MacDuff hopes to have George Paterson, Steve Gemmell, Lee Sweeney, Steve Cairns and Sean O’Donnell back in his squad for this week’s derby against Royal Albert.

Carluke Rovers hammered newcomers Rossvale 7-2 to shoot to top spot.

Having stepped up from amateur aces Cambusnethan Talbot Under-19s in June, first-season junior Darren Hamilton hit a hat-trick, adding to strikes by Craig Stark, Stewart Arnott, Mark Haddow and Jordan McCrorie.

Manager Colin Slater said: “Darren scored three goals but it was also encouraging to see the others coming from various areas of the team.

“Darren is forming a very effective goal-scoring partnership with Stewart Arnott, while Craig Stark and Mark Haddow are forming a very productive pairing in midfield.

“It’s all looking good as we prepare to head to Forth to play a team that’s also been scoring lots of goals recently.”

Slater missed the weekend scoring spree due to a commitment given prior to his close-season appointment as Carluke manager – his climb up Ben Nevis on Saturday is set to raise over £2000 for Yorkhill Hospital.

Royal Albert lost 4-1 at home to Maryhill, with James Neilson bagging the goal.

Manager Iain McCluskie said: “The 4-1 scoreline made it look worse than it was. They scored two goals in the last few minutes after Michael Neil, Craig Tocher and James Neilson had struck the woodwork.”

Holidays mean that Mark Reid and Martin Clark will miss the basement battle at Stonehouse on Saturday.

Newmains United went down 3-0 at home to St Roch’s, while Wishaw’s game at Johnstone Burgh was called off following a 9am pitch inspection at Keanie Park, allowing co-manager Alex Young to take in the Forth - Blantyre game.

Young was this week in talks with Shotts with a view to landing former Thorniewood centre-half Andy Stewart ahead of Saturday’s game against St Roch’s.