Today it was the turn of Campbeltown Pupils to make the long journey from Argyll to play Carluke Rovers in this West of Scotland league match. Carluke were confident they could continue their recent vein of good form with Campbeltown sitting second bottom.

The game got underway in relatively benign conditions and Carluke nearly took the lead as early as the 2nd minute. Good play down the left wing saw the ball moved to the opposite wing where it was picked up by Connor Coyle. The fullback pushed down the wing and got a good cross in. The ball was met by Chris Owen but his effort was well over from close range.

Both teams settled into the game but it was Carluke who were controlling matters in the first half with Campbeltown not providing much of a threat at the other end. That said it took till 27th minute for Carluke to create their next good chance. Connor McQueen rifled in a low cross from the left across the six yard box but the ball eluded everyone and went out for a throw in at the other side.

At this juncture of the game, as we got nearer to halftime, Carluke were starting to get more success trying to pierce the resolute Campbeltown defence. In the 33rd minute a direct free kick from 20 yards was hit low and hard by Chris Owen. Reid Anderson in the visitors’ goal could only parry it out to Ross Steele but he snatched at his left foot shot and dragged the ball wide of the goal.

Carluke were not be denied though and in the 44th minute Rovers got their goal. Good play by Aidan Ward in the middle of the park saw him feed the industrious Chris Owen on the left wing. He them whipped in an inch perfect cross to the back post to Connor McQueen. The winger met the ball beautifully on the volley from 6 yards out giving the Keeper no chance and securing a lead for Carluke right on halftime.

Carluke came out for the second half buoyed by that late goal and it didn’t take them long to extend their lead and put a bit of daylight between the two teams. A corner on the right was swung in and first to meet it was James Dunlop whose header found the bottom corner to make the score 2-0 to Carluke. Then a few minutes later the same player could have made it 3-0 but this time his downward header kicked up and bounced over the bar.

Campbeltown had been defending in numbers during the first half and early into second making life difficult for Carluke in trying to find a way through. However when they went 2-0 down they started to push further forward more in search of a goal that would see them back into this game. However it was slack play at the back by Carluke that nearly proved costly and let Campbeltown in. Rovers lost the ball in their own half. It was played down the wing before being centered into Ryan McConnachie. The big No 4 unleashed a shot from 15 yards destined for the roof of the net until Garry Black in the Carluke goal managed to get fingertips to it and put it over the bar. A great save.

Carluke were still chasing a third goal and it nearly came in the 72nd minute. Rovers centre half Ross Girdwood snatched at an effort 6 yards out and it went harmlessly out for a goal kick.

The final chance for Carluke came when Dom Small threaded a lovely ball to Kyle McAdam and from a very tight angle the midfielder tried to deflect the ball into the goal but it just clipped the near post and went out for a goal kick.

There wasn’t much more in the way of action and Carluke ran out quite comfortable victors although they will need to produce better to compete with the teams further up the standings. However The Rovers continue their unbeaten run and are climbing the league. Next Saturday it is an away game against local rivals Newmains United.

Photography by Kevin Ramage