It was a hastily rearranged league fixture today for Carluke Rovers against East Kilbride Thistle. Both teams had had their games called off on Friday due to differing circumstances. These postponements gave both teams the opportunity to play a match which itself had been postponed from the week before due to the weather.

This rearrangement was good news for Carluke Rovers who were keen to keep their momentum and continue their run of recent good results. The Rovers have not been beaten in their last seven league games dating back to mid October. However this would be a stern test against an East Kilbride Thistle whose most recent games against two of the top three teams in the league had resulted in a draw and a victory for them.

The game got off to a very fast paced start with both teams looking to gain an early grip on proceedings. Unfortunately for Carluke it was to be East Kilbride who were to strike the first blow as early as the fourth minute. A run from midfield saw the ball passed wide to Ryan Menzies. The winger cut inside and shot from 16yards through a ruck of Rovers defenders and underneath the unsighted Garry Black in the Carluke goal. 0-1 to East Kilbride.

This was always going to be a tight game with few chances and so it was much to the relief of Carluke Rovers that they got back level after only 5 minutes. Good interplay down the left hand side between Mikey Downes and Ross Steele saw the final pass with Downes through on goal. The Rovers striker calmy slotted the ball across the Keeper into the far corner from 12 yards out to make the score 1-1.

The game settled down after this frenetic start and both defences were on top and not giving much away. However an error in the Rovers defence in the 16th minute nearly cost them dearly. A misplaced pass out of the back was intercepted by the left winger of East Kilbride whose shot was excellently blocked by Garry Black in the Rovers goal.

There wasn’t much more in the way of goalmouth action in what was still an enthralling game and both teams went in at halftime relatively happy to be tied at 1-1.

This second half got underway with both teams knowing that the next goal could be crucial in such a tight game. Slightly against the run of play it was Carluke who were to get it. In the 69th minute good play down the left saw the ball with Chris Owen. His well timed low cross was missed by the first defender and found Jay McInally whose shot was well saved by Borland in the East Kilbride goal but he wasn’t able to hold it. Quickest to react was Ross Steele who managed to poke the ball under the East Kilbride keeper to give Carluke the lead 2-1.

With 20 minutes to go both teams made changes to personnel to freshen things up. East Kilbride knew they had to push for the equaliser and started to pin Carluke back in their own half restricting the home team to hitting them on the break. However for all their possession in the final 15 minutes East Kilbride never looked as if they were going to penetrate an excellent rear guard action by Carluke and so it turned out with The Rovers running out 2-1 winners to extend their unbeaten run.

Next Saturday Carluke are away to bottom club BSC Glasgow confident they can continue their recent vein of good form and results.

Photography by Kevin Ramage