Carluke made the journey to Lugar in East Ayrshire to play Lugar Boswell in this West of Scotland League game. Both teams are keen to get back up the Divisions and this had the making of a tight game which it turned out to be.

Carluke had a golden chance to take the lead in the very first minute when good work on the right saw the ball flashed across the box and Craig Rutherford put it wide from six yards out when it looked easier to score.

The game settled down after that with no real threat at either end until the 17th minute when the ball broke to the Lugar No9 about 20 yards out and he hit a speculative shot which looped over Josh McGill and into the back of the net to make the score 1-0 to Lugar.

Carluke nearly got an equaliser just before halftime when a shot from Dom Small was blocked and when the ball broke to Reiss Stewart his shot was heading to the top corner before the Lugar keeper got to it and put it over the bar. Halftime 1-0 to Lugar with all to play for.

The second half was only 3 minutes old when Carluke got a bit of luck that has evaded them the last few weeks when a cross from Dylan Morrow was deflected into his own net by a Lugar defender making the score 1-1.

This early leveler gave Carluke the impetus to push for another goal and they didn’t have to wait long. Good work by Dom Small saw him feed the ball to Ruben Sandhu who carried the ball down the left wing before sending in an inch perfect cross which was met by the onrushing Brandon McKenzie. His bullet header from close range gave the keeper no chance. 1-2 to Carluke Rovers.

There was a couple of chances at both ends as the game see sawed with Lugar hitting the outside of the post on the hour mark. Then, as in the Scottish Cup tie, the game was to turn just as Carluke were in the ascendancy with a sending off. Greg Miller went for a ball competing with the Lugar keeper. It was a ball he was entitled to go for but the Referee deemed his challenge along the ground to be late and duly brandished a straight red card.

This gave Lugar hope and Carluke had to reorganize with 10 men which they did. In fact it was Carluke who nearly extended their lead when Dom Small evaded a challenge but his resultant shot was well saved.

Then just as Carluke thought they had seen the game out Lugar got an equaliser in the 92nd minute. The Lugar left back picked up the ball just inside the Carluke half and moved forward with it. With not much on he decided to hit a speculative shot from 25 yards. Again, just as in the first half, the ball went over the head of Josh McGill in the Carluke goal and nestled in the back of the net. 2-2.

This was the last action of the game and Carluke can feel a little aggrieved as they deserved to take full points from this game. They will be heartened however with the improving results as the management team continue to strengthen the squad.

Next Saturday Carluke welcome Glenvale to the John Cumming Stadium for what will be another difficult game.

Photography by Kevin Ramage