Carluke Rovers travelled to Bellshill today to play their penultimate league game against Bellshill Athletic in the West of Scotland league. With injuries and certain players unavailable depleting the squad it was always going to be a difficult afternoon for Carluke and so it transpired.

The pitch was in good shape for the time of year and it did not take Bellshill long to use it to their advantage and open the scoring. A simple long ball from the right hand side was pulled out the air by the Bellshill No9 and he turned and hit an unstoppable left foot shot into the roof of the net. 1-0 to Bellshill.

Carluke held the own for the most part in this game but could not stop Bellshill doubling their lead in the 29th minute. The ball was crossed into the Carluke box and headed back across goal to former Rovers player Chris Jarvie. He got the ball under control and turned to rifle it into the net from close range. 2-0 to Bellshill.

Then in 40 minutes Bellshill put the game beyond doubt when an error at the back for Carluke saw their defender dispossessed. A simple ball was played inside to the Bellshill striker who wrong footed Josh McGill in the Carluke goal to make the score 3-0 at halftime.

Carluke were playing for pride now and in the second half gave as good as they got without creating too much in the way of clear cut chances.

For their part Bellshill were similarly unproductive but when they created a chance in the 82nd minute they took it. The No7 for Bellshill cut in from the left and hit his shot early under the diving Josh McGill to make the final score 4-0 to Bellshill.

Next Saturday Carluke Rovers travel to Saltcoats to play their final game of the season.

Photography by Kevin Ramage