After last week’s defeat at the hands of Vale of Clyde it was important for Carluke to get back to winning ways. Today’s opponents Lugar Boswell were also keen to chalk up a victory on their visit to the John Cumming Stadium for this West of Scotland League match.

Both teams needed a win to start climbing the league and when the game got underway it was Lugar who started the quicker and had the bulk of the possession without really threatening Josh McGill in the Carluke goal. However in the 18th minute they got the opener when a corner came in form the left. Carluke failed to clear the ball at the near post and after a bit of a scramble Lugar’s No8 shot past the outstretched arm of Josh McGill. Despite the best efforts of Ruben Sandhu on the line who thought he had cleared it the Referee who was well positioned gave the goal. 0-1 to Lugar.

This goal seemed to inject a bit of life into Carluke and rather than letting their heads go down they rolled up their sleeves and began creating some opportunities at the other end. In the 21st minute an effort from Dean Bell was over the bar. Then in the 29th minute a Carluke corner came in from the left. There was a bit of a scramble in the box but Carluke got to it first and it looked a certain goal until the Lugar player cleared it off the line. There were cries for a penalty from the Carluke players but the Referee waved away the protestations.

Then in the 41st minute it looked if Carluke had got the equaliser when another corner was whipped in and was met by the head of returning centre half Reiss Stewart but he was thwarted by a great save by the Lugar Boswell Keeper.

This was to be the last chance of the first half and Carluke had it all to do hitting into the wind in the second half. Carluke came out for the second half firing and began as they had finished the first, on the front foot. In fact it only took a minute for them to get the equaliser. Striker Connor McKenzie crossed the ball over from the left to the far post where it was picked up by Ruben Sandhu. He in turn squared the ball onto the onrushing Christy Lawlor who calmly slid the ball into the bottom corner to make it 1-1.

Then 2 minutes later Lugar plotted their own downfall when their left back attempted a pass back when under no pressure. The Keeper slipped and Christy Lawlor snuck in and although his first effort was saved by the Keeper the ball went under his body and Lawlor followed through to thrash the ball into an empty net. 2-1 to Carluke.

Lugar weren’t done though and in the 50th minute only a good closing down save by Josh McGill stopped them from getting an equaliser. At this point the game opened up with opportunities at both ends but Carluke passed up two wonderful chances to put the game to bed in the 70th minute. Firstly Dom Small cut inside the box and made himself the space to get a shot away which was well saved by the feet of the Lugar keeper. However the ball broke to Christy Lawlor who, from close range, pulled his resultant effort wide of the post denying himself a hattrick.

Then in the 89th minute following good work by Josh Bell on the right the ball found Stephen Gemmell whose shot was well saved by the Lugar Keeper. Carluke could have regretted theses spurned opportunities but they held on comfortably for what was a well deserved victory 2-1 and three valuable points.

Next week Carluke are away to Dalry Thistle.

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Rovers Man of the Match
Christy Lawlor

Photography by Kevin Ramage