Carluke welcomed Giffnock SC to the John Cumming Stadium for this West of Scotland League game. Both teams have had an indifferent start to the season and both hoped to get a win today.

Playing with the wind slightly at their backs it was Carluke who were to get off to the quick start. In the first minute, returning to the starting line up, captain Alan Inch was fed the ball in the Giffnock half. He took a touch before shooting low and hard. The Giffnock keeper managed to save the shot but spilled it only to collect before the onrushing Rovers striker.

There seemed to be more urgency about the Rovers play at the start of the game compared to Giffnock but the visitors began to settle and in the 15th minute went close themselves. After good possession in the Rovers half the ball broke to Campbell Gibson. He found space in the box but his shot went wide across the goal and past the far post.

This was turning into an evenly contested match at this point and it was Carluke who were next to threaten when in the 19th minute a long ball out of defence was latched onto by Ben Rennie. He was through on goal with the keeper to beat. He managed to take the ball round McIlwham in the Giffnock goal but the angle he left himself was tight and he could only find the side netting with his shot.

Up at the other end Giffnock nearly took advantage of a corner when the ball was played to the backpost but the header by centre half Chris Scott was cleared by the Carluke defence. This was followed by error in the Giffnock defence when full back Jack Agnew tried to cross the ball across his own box but mishit it onto the head of Carluke’s James Miller but his reflex header went wide.

This had turned into a good match with not a lot between the two teams however there was a feeling that the first goal could prove to be decisive and it was nearly Giffnock who got it. In the 37th minute a cross to the backpost was headed a cross goal and Giffnock striker tried to place his volley into the far left post but to the relief of the Carluke defence the ball went wide. This was to be the last action of the half and both teams went in at stalemate with everything to play for in the second half.

The second half followed a similar pattern to the first half and it took till the 56th minute for the first clear cut effort. Good play by Campbell Gibson of Giffnock saw him gather the ball and turn inside before unleashing a shot which went well over the bar. Then it was the turn of Carluke’s Dom Small to run through on goal but he was forced wide and his resultant effort again found the side netting.

Then in 75 minutes the deadlock was finally broken and it was Carluke who were to take the lead. Rovers striker Mikey Downs latched onto a great pass through the middle of the Giffnock defence and calmy shot the ball past the Giffnock keeper as he came out to the close the angle. The goal was met by loud cheers from the stands and the Rovers bench.
1-0 to Carluke.

The joy however was short lived as within 2 minutes Giffnock were on level terms. A freekick was awarded on the left had side just inside the Carluke half. The ball was flighted to the backpost where it was headed back across goal. Rovers failed to clear their lines and the ball was knocked in from close range by Giffnock. 1-1.

This was a real blow to Carluke as it had looked like one goal was going to win this game but they kept plugging away. In fact Rovers had a glorious chance to win the game when in the 80th minute substitute Israel Onwubiko made a good run down the left wing before firing in a low cross. The ball went just behind Dom Small but was perfect for Darrell Love. He hit it first time from 10 yards out in front of goal but unfortunately straight at the Giffnock Keeper who blocked the shot.

This was to be the last of the action and both teams left relatively happy with a 1-1 scoreline. Next week Caruke are away to West Park and hope that they can continue showing the improved form prevalent with each passing game.