It was Carluke’s first away game of the season with the opposition being East Kilbride Thistle in this West of Scotland League game. East Kilbride’s ground is a typical junior park with the grass being quite long and the surface slightly bumpy.

The game got off to a quiet start between, what turned out to be, two evenly matched teams.The first chance of the game came in the 19th minute. A loose pass in the Rovers defence saw the East Kilbride No9 through on goal but a good blocking save by Garry Black in the Carluke goal saw the ball out for a corner.

The game was being played mainly in the middle of the park with both defences not overly troubled. It was to be the 37th minute when Carluke were to get their first corner and opportunity. The corner was flighted in and Rovers midfielder Steven Logan rose above everyone and headed the ball downwards towards the target. As the ball rose towards the roof of the net Borland in the East Kilbride goal got a hand to it and tipped it over the bar.

Then in 40 minutes East Kilbride should have taken the lead. Good play by Jude Rodger on the left wing saw him cut inside then square the ball to Mitchell Rooney. The striker was unmarked and tried to take his chance early in front of goal but fortunately for Carluke the ball bobbled as he struck it and he lifted his shot over the bar.

The game was starting to open up a little more now and Carluke’s James Miller was next to threaten the goal. He dispossessed an East Kilbride midfielder and then unleashed a screamer of a shot which the Keeper managed to tip over the bar. This was the last action of the first half with the score locked at 0-0.

Carluke were to start the second half brightly and nearly took the lead in the first minute. The ball was picked up by striker Mikey Downs whose shot from 16 yards was parried against the near post. It broke out to Ben Patterson but his shot was blocked out for a corner by the EK Keeper.

Carluke were gaining some momentum at this point and it was the hardworking Steven Logan who was next to threaten when good play in midfield saw the ball reach Logan but his shot from 25 yards whistled just wide.

Carluke were to rue these missed opportunities in the 83rd minute when East Kilbride took the lead. Good inter play on the left just outside the box saw Kieran McCulloch through on goal and his shot went under Black in the Carluke goal to make it 1-0 to EK.

To their credit Carluke pushed hard for an equaliser and should have got it as they created 2 great chances in the dying minutes. Firstly Ben Rennie fired in a great shot in the 83rd minute but Borland in the East Kilbride goal made a wonderful save. Then with a minute left good play in side the EK box by Carluke found the returning Josh Fullerton at the corner of the six yard box but his volley was pulled agonisingly wide.

This was to be the last of the action and East Kilbride Thistle hung on to win 1-0. Albeit a difficult result for Rovers, as they deserved at least a draw, this was a fixture they were heavily beaten in last season and shows the progress being made.

Photography by Kevin Ramage