Shotts Bon Accord crush Ardrossan to climb to second

Nov 24 2011 Hamilton Advertiser

CRAIG Miles hit a hat-trick and Stefan McLuskie a double as Shotts Bon Accord beat Ardrossan Winton Rovers 7-0 to claim second place in the Super First Division.

Jubilant manager Tony McInally said: “We’re all absolutely delighted: the result and performance were excellent. The players did their job brilliantly.

“When you bring in eight new players it takes time for them to settle in, but we’ve being playing extremely well with 4-1, 5-1 and 7-0 wins in the past month.

“It was encouraging to see all three strikers get among the goals.

“Ardrossan had a player sent off when we were awarded a penalty for our first goal after 10 minutes then we added two more a few minutes apart. After that they lost their discipline and we played them off the park.”

Craig Miles was spot on for an early start and as Rovers were reduced to nine men after a tackle on Gary McStay, Miles added a second, Stefan McCluskey made it 3-0 and Paul Finnigan added a fourth before the break.

Second half counters from McCluskey, Miles and Allan McKenzie completed the seven-goal spree.

Thorniewood United and 10-man Lanark United produced an entertaining no-scoring encounter despite a series of missed chances on a sticky Robertson Park.

Lanark, minus suspended pair Ross Fletcher and Chris Seenan and the unavailable Stuart Tullis, did well to overcome their handicap after goalie Ross Hyslop was red-carded in the ninth minute.

Stephen Mullen sprinted through on goal but was bundled off the ball – a clash referee Nick Walsh deemed as denying a goal-scoring opportunity.

Midfielder Declan McAvoy was withdrawn to allow Derek Barnes to go into goal and United defended superbly for the next 80 minutes.

But Thorniewood's highly watchable passing game should have produced goals.

Manager Kieran McGuinness said: “I'm delighted with the point but disappointed that we didn't take all three. With the chances created, especially when they were down to 10 men, I thought there was only one team on the park.

“Our guys did well to keep their momentum of the past three weeks when we have picked up seven points from nine – two wins in Ayrshire then this draw. I’m delighted with that.”

Lanark manager Tam McDonald said: “It was a blow going down to 10 men after nine minutes. I thought the referee's decision was a poor one. There were two men in the area when Hyslop brought down the boy who was running away from goal.

“But I can't fault the boys' character on a pitch that was a bit heavy for our liking. We were down to 10 men for so long and to me we should have won it in the end. Jack Marriott and Grant Cuthill missed good close-in chances.”