Bonnyton Thistle from Division 2 were todays opponents in Carluke Rovers final pre-season friendly before the new Division 4 season starts next Saturday.

The Carluke management decided again to start this match with 4 trialist in what would prove to be a tough fought match.

Bonnyton were getting the best of the early action and were looking pretty slick on the ball, however, it was Carluke who shocked the visitors with a sliding shot into the Bonnyton net from a corner, goal scored by the always energetic Joshua Bell with around 6 minutes played.

15 minutes in and Bonnytons persistance paid off as they equalised as a high looping header evaded Josh McGill in the Carluke goal.

Bonnyton were to lose their goalkeeper Jonny Grier in 24 minutes following a clash of legs with Joshu Bell, the match was delayed for a short period with the former Rovers keeper having to be helped from the field. Unfortunately Bonnyton didn’t have a replacement keeper on the bench and had to place an outfield player between the sticks.

Rovers rarely troubled the stand in keeper and it was a further 10 minutes later and the Bonnyton striker rose and powered another header beyond John McGill for Bonnyton to go into the lead.

Carluke needed to dig in as Bonnyton started to take control of the match and just before half time Bonnyton got a 3rd and Carluke looked like suffering defeat in their final pre-season match.

Half Time – Carluke 1 v 3 Bonnyton.

Carluke came out the 2nd half trying to restore some pride and took the game to Bonnyton, within 3 minutes a well flighted free kick from Dom Small was met by the head of Reiss Stewart who powered his header into the net.

With the game poised at 3-2 it was the Rovers who had the belief and started to put pressure on Bonnyton and the just 2 minutes later it was Reiss Stewart again who glanced a flighted ball beyond the helpless Bonnyton replacement keeper.

55 minutes in and Rovers had a great chance to go ahead as a well struck free kick from outside the box from Rovers front man Greg Miller was excellently saved by the keeper a feat that he repeated some 5 minutes later as he stopped an well hit free kick from Reiss Stewart.

Bonnyton as expected came more into the game and had several decent chances to take the lead but the Rovers defence stood strong.

The match finished with a share of the spoils and a fair result over the piece for both teams.

We wish Bonnyton all the best for their new season and hope for a speedy recovery for Jonny Grier.

Next week we are into league action as Eglinton come visiting.

 

Photography by Kevin Ramage