Carluke Rovers welcomed Caledonian Braves to the John Cumming Stadium for this South Challenge Cup tie. This was always going to be a very difficult game for Carluke with The Braves in the Lowland League effectively 4 divisions above them and so it turned out to be.

It was clear from the start that Braves were a slick football team as they knocked the ball around well and were constantly on the move. In fact they got their opener as early as the 4th minute when the ball was played wide on the left. Carluke failed to clear the danger and despite a good save by Josh McGill in the Carluke goal The Braves No 6 scored from the save.

It only took till the 12th minute for them to get their second with a similar goal. The ball was fed in from the left and knocked in by their No 7. 2-0 to Braves.

Then in 17 minutes it was 3-0. Again the damage was done down the left when the No 11 cut inside and hit an unstoppable shot with his left past McGill in the Carluke goal. 0-3.

Carluke held out for nearly 20 minutes but in the 33rd minute great one touch football outside the box found the ball landing at the feet of the Braves No 8 who had the easiest of tap ins to make it 0-4.

Carluke had not let their heads go down and continued to work hard. In the36th minute their efforts were rewarded when slackness in the Caley Braves defence saw the ball land at the feet of Greg Miller. He took the opportunity to hit a great strike from 25 yards which flew into the bottom corner past the outstretched arm of the Braves goalkeeper. 1-4.

This gave Carluke a lift but it was short lived as just before half time the Braves No 6 collected the ball on the penalty spot with his back to goal. He managed to turn and rifle a shot past McGill in the Carluke goal. To make the half time score 1-5.

The second half formed a similar pattern to the first half and further goals in the 53rd, 68th, 74th and 88th minute for Caledonian Braves saw them run out comfortable winners 1-9.

Although this was a convincing win for The Braves it was one of Carluke’s poorer performances and they will look to do better next week when they get back to league duties away to Dalry Thistle.

Westcoast Storage and Removal Limited
Rovers Man of the Match
Greg Miller

Photography by Kevin Ramage