It had been hoped that with no game last week the respite would have done Carluke Rovers some good in preparation for today’s visitors Vale of Clyde. Sadly this was not the case and the team’s poor start to the season was destined to continue with a 5-0 defeat.

Straight from the kickoff Vale took control of the game and an early freekick flashed by the Carluke right hand post. It took only a further minute for Vale of Clyde to get their first goal in the 9th minute. Excellent play on the edge of the box gave the No10 the breathing space he needed and he hit a lovely lob over the outstretched arm of Josh McGill in the Carluke goal to make it 0-1.

It only took a further 2 minutes for Vale to double their lead when the No 10 beat the offside trap and coolly slotted the ball the McGill. 0-2.

Carluke had an opportunity to pull one back in the 38th minute when Christy Lawlor intercepted a poor cross field pass and ran in on goal only to see his shot saved by the Vale goalkeeper. The ball broke to Dom Small who also had his shot parried by the keeper and the ball was eventually cleared.

As has been the case in previous weeks Carluke were quickly to pay for this miss when Clyde went up the park 2 minutes later and scored. A corner was played to the back post and when it was passed back across the box the Vale No 9 collected it with his back to goal, swiveled and dispatched the ball into the empty net. 0-3.

This was a cruel blow to Carluke just before halftime and it got worse at the start of the second half when Vale’s No 9 produced a wonderful overhead kick to complete his hattrick and make the score 0-4.

Carluke were to be much better in the second half and players such as Christy Lawlor and Dom Small were starting to link up the play and make inroads on the Vale of Clyde goal. It was one such move on the hour mark that led to a great effort from Carluke’s Adam Hamilton producing a one handed save from the Vale of Clyde goalkeeper to thwart the midfielder.

The game was already over when Jamie Murphy of Carluke was sent off for a second bookable offence and just to rub salt into the wounds Vale of Clyde scored a fifth goal in the 92nd minute making the final score 0-5.

Next week Carluke Rovers welcome the visit of Ellon United in the Scottish Junior Cup with a 2pm kickoff. Hopefully this will be another opportunity for the team to kickstart their season.

Photography by Kevin Ramage