Carluke Rovers welcomed Premier League high flyers in the form of Drumchapel United today for this West of Scotland Cup third round match. Carluke’s performances and results have been improving over the last few weeks but they were in no doubt this was a few levels above teams they have played with a sprinkling of former senior pros in the Drumchapel ranks.

The game kicked off with Carluke playing with the wind at their backs hoping that could work to their advantage in the first half. The game started quietly enough with nothing much happening in the first 10 minutes. Carluke then applied some pressure and got a succession of corners that ultimately came to nothing despite Connor McQueen having 2 efforts on goal blocked by defenders.

Carluke were coping well with Drumchapel and taking every opportunity to get forward and threaten their rearguard but in the 18th minute they were undone by some good work down the left. The ball ultimately found the feet of Botti Biabi whose cutback from the bye line was knocked over the line by the striker to put Drumchapel one up.

This settled Drumchapel and they were beginning to knock the ball around the pitch but without really threatening too much and when they did Garry Black in the Rovers goal was equal to everything he had to deal with.

Carluke looked to be heading in at halftime only one down and well in the game when with the last kick of the first half Drumchapel doubled their lead. There was nothing the Rovers keeper could do about it as the shot from former Rangers man, Gregg Wylde found the top right corner. This was to be the last kick of the half and Rovers trudged off disappointed that they had conceded so late in the half.

The second half was to follow a similar pattern to the first with Drumchapel enjoying a lot of possession but Carluke coping well and looking dangerous on the break. Rovers nearly got a goal back when a corner in the 54th minute. Last week’s 2 goal hero Olly Grenfell rose up to head the ball home but he didn’t get proper contact and unlike last week the ball went over the bar. Then in the 55th minute a low ball across Carluke’s 6 yard box just missed the outstretched leg of Botti Biabi to the relief of the Rovers defence.

Black was continuing to perform heroics in the Carluke goal but in the 78th minute he was powerless to stop Drumchapel scoring a third. An unfortunate miskick in the Rovers defence saw the ball fall directly at the feet of a grateful Drumchapel player who directed the ball into the side netting to make the score 0-3 to Drumchapel.

Munir Idris got their fourth in the 81st minute when he latched onto the ball after a good move down the left. He cut inside the Rovers defender and curled his shot into the far top corner from about 15 yards. 0-4 to Drumchapel.

They nearly extended their lead further but for a brilliant diving save from substitute keeper. Josh McIntyre. Then with time running out Carluke so nearly got a consolation goal with one of the best moves of the match. Good interplay in the left back area by Carluke saw the ball moved up the left wing then a couple of one touch passes across the pitch saw the ball find it’s way to Dom Small who was through on the Keeper. He shot just inside the post but Ryan Scully in the Drumchapel goal got his body behind the ball and managed to push it to safety.

This was to be the last of the action and Drumchapel ran out quite comfortable winners 0-4. However this was Carluke’s third tough cup game this season against similar high level opponents and it was another example of the improvements being made as they competed well in this game and were unfortunate not to get a goal or two of their own. Next week it is back to league action with a visit from Rossvale, where the Rovers hope to continue their recent, good league form.

Photography by Kevin Ramage