Fortunately the wind had abated from the previous day but the surface was still quite bumpy and a certain amount of caution had to be employed when on the ball. Ardeer were playing with the advantage of a slight incline in the first half and were the first to show in the 3^rd minute. A freekick from the right was met by an Ardeer head but Dean Wilson in the Carluke goal got across well to save the header.

Carluke had managed to contain Ardeer quite comfortably, but the Club’s injury curse this season was to strike again when both Greg Kane and an impressive trialist had to go off inured in quick succession to be replaced by Tayler Jessimer and a welcome return to long term injury victim and club captain, Mark Cassidy.

Getting back to the game it was to be a speculative long ball to Ryan Wilson of Ardeer that was to be Carluke undoing. In the 22^nd minute he picked the ball up, from what everyone but the Referee, thought was offside and made his way into the box where he was adjudged to be brought down for a penalty. A bit harsh on Carluke but the penalty was calmy stroked away by David Gray to make the score 1-0 to Ardeer.

Five minutes later Carluke were to fall further behind when a cross from the right was met by Robert Frew who ghosted into the box to head home from close range to make the score 2-0 to Ardeer.

Ardeer were playing with a lot of confidence afforded to them with a 2 goal lead and Ryan Wilson nearly got a third when his pass across the front of goal from a tight angle went harmlessly out for a goal kick. However this was only a brief respite when in the 38^th minute the same player was to score Ardeer’s third when following a good save by Dean Wilson the ball broke kindly to Ryan Wilson on the penalty spot and he fired it in to the back of the net. 3-0.

Carluke were hoping to hold out till the break to reassess their gameplan and try to get back in the game but the points were effectively secured right on halftime when Ardeer got their fourth. Again it was that man Ryan Wilson who collected a cross field pass on the left and had all the time he needed to pick his spot in the far corner although Wilson got a touch to it. 4-0 at the break.

Carluke gave a far better fist of things in the second half and shaded the play and the possession. It was therefore no surprise when they scored a consolation through James Frame in the 67^th minute. The ball was flighted by Jonny Wilson to the back post and Frame, in space, scored from close range. 4-1 Ardeer.

Ardeer managed to pull another good save out of Dean Wilson in the 88^th minute but that apart there was not a great deal of goalmouth action in the last 15 minutes and Ardeer ran out comfortable 4-1 winners.

Carluke will brush themselves down and go again next week against Gartcairn at the John Cumming Stadium with a 1:30pm kickoff. Another tough game.