Campbeltown Pupils made their first ever visit to Carluke on a gloriously sunny afternoon at the John Cumming Stadium which was uncharacteristically pleasant for an autumn day in Carluke. However, the low sun would prove to be a significant factor for both defences to deal with, and when the visitors won the toss and changed ends, it looked as though the Rovers may be up against it in the upcoming half.

However, that would not prove to be the case as Carluke started well and managed to put pressure on their visitor’s goal for long spells. On the quarter-hour mark their persistence paid off when, from 30 yards out, Josh Fullerton stroked a wonderful shot from the left side of the box to the top right-hand corner of the Campbeltown goal, leaving the visiting keeper flat footed inside his six-yard box.

With their tails up Carluke continued to pile the pressure on the visitor’s goal. When Rovers captain Dom Small was fouled midway in the Campbeltown half, only a few minutes after the opening goal Carluke number 9, Greg Miller, stepped up to attempt one of his trademark rocket shots. From 30 yards, and despite an acrobatic attempt to keep the ball out, Miller’s shot flew past the keeper and the Rovers had doubled their lead.

As the first half progressed the aforementioned low sun began to impact on the performance of the Rovers defence. As half time approached Campbeltown’s number 8, McCallum, scored their first goal.

HT Rovers 2-1 Campbeltown

The second half had barely started when the visitors levelled the score through substitute MacMillan.

For the opening quarter of an hour of the second half both teams put pressure on their opponent’s goal, with the home side probably creating more significant chances to take the lead once more.

It wasn’t surprising therefore when the Campbeltown goal was breached for the third time when Rovers number 4, Reiss Stewart, pounced on a loose ball inside the Campbeltown six-yard box and lifted the ball past the keeper and into the visitor’s goal.

As both sides continued to create chances the game continued at a pace which was entertaining for the small band of supporters.

The Rovers dominance continued with the impressive Miller adding to his tally. He picked up the ball just outside the visitor’s box on the right, held off the presence of the Campbeltown captain to fire the ball past the keeper for his second and the Rovers fourth goal.

The visitors continued to press and once again managed to take advantage of defensive errors to breach the home defence. Campbeltown’s number 10, Ellis, scored their third goal to reduce the Rovers lead to just one goal.

Inside the last 20 minutes Fullerton rounded off an excellent display by adding his second, and the Rovers fifth, and final, goal of the game. Clever interplay with Park saw Fullerton chasing a ball inside the visitor’s box. The keeper looked to smother the ball, but the Rovers number 8 was too quick, and his beautifully chipped shot soared over the keeper and into the net.

FT Rovers 5-3 Campbeltown

Overall, a satisfying, and much needed win, for the Rovers against an excellent Campbeltown side The Rovers are at home for the third consecutive week next week when East Kilbride Thistle visit for a re-arranged league fixture. This is the week League kick-off times will move to the winter time of 1.30pm.

Photography by Kevin Ramage