It was the turn of Knightswood to visit Carluke for this West of Scotland League match. Both teams were looking for a result to start pushing up the Division and it was destined to be a closely fought encounter.

The game got underway with Knightswood taking advantage of the breeze at their backs but it was Carluke who started the better. They were pressing from the outset and nearly took the lead in the 14th minute when recently signed Christy Lawlor received a pass through the middle and bore down on goal. With defenders trying to get back he hit a shot from just inside the box but it was at a good height for the keeper and he managed to parry the ball to safety.

Knightswood were also trying to push forward and a fierce freekick from their number 20 flashed just past the far post. Carluke also got a freekick at the other end which was fired straight at the keeper by Christy Lawlor. He managed to parry it but just to the feet of Dylan Morrow. However the Referee blew for offside before Morrow could convert.

Carluke were continuing to press and should have taken the lead in 33 minutes. A long through ball found Dom Small and as he ran in on goal he attempted to lift the ball over the onrushing Knightswood Keeper. However a lack of height on the chip allowed the Knightswood keeper to get a despairing hand to it and keep it out.

Carluke were not to be denied though and just before halftime they got the goal their first half display had deserved. Josh Bell entered the Knightswood box and cut across a defender who pulled him down for a penalty. It was duly converted by Josh Fullerton to make the score 1-0 to Carluke at halftime.

Knightswood came out in the second half determined to get back into the game and it didn’t take long for them to get their equaliser with their first real attempt at goal in the 51st minute. An initial shot ricocheted off the bar and when Carluke failed to clear it was swept into the net by Knightswood to level the score. Then on the hour mark Knightswood took the lead. They were awarded a freekick 25 yards out to the corner of the goal. Their No20 hit an unstoppable shot in the far top corner giving Josh McGill no chance. 1-2 to Knightswood.

This was a real shock to Carluke who had been comfortable throughout. To their credit however they did not give up and pushed hard to get an equaliser. So much so that Knightswood were trying every delaying tactic they could to see the game out. Fortunately for Carluke the Referee was adding time on to compensate for these tactics. In the 97th minute Carluke got a corner. The ball was thrown into the box and when Knightswood failed to clear it after a couple of Carluke close range attempts it was finally poked over the line by Barry Fraser. The celebrations were more of relief than anything else and when Knightswood centred the ball the Referee blew for full time almost immediately.

Final Score Carluke Rovers 2 Knightswood 2.

Photography by Kevin Ramage