Today Carluke were to play the first of three home games against higher level opposition in three different Cups. First up on Saturday was probably the hardest of the three when they welcomed high flying, unbeaten Auchinleck Talbot from the West of Scotland Premier League. The competition was the Scottish Communities Cup previously known as the Junior Cup.

A healthy crowd was inside the John Cumming Stadium for kickoff with the usual good numbers from the Auchinleck faithful. The breeze was blowing across the pitch and not really benefitting either side.

The key for Carluke was to get off to a good start, keep it tight and ensure they didn’t concede early on. Unfortunately for Carluke a small error at the back allowed Auchinleck’s Luke Main to pick up the ball inside the box and coolly slide it into the far corner to give Auchinleck an early lead in the 5th minute. The start that Carluke were dreading.

However to their credit The Rovers responded in perfect fashion. They rolled their sleeves up and showed the spirit which has them unbeaten in the league this season. In fact they were to level the match in the 13th minute when a Ben Rennie corner broke out to Nicky Prentice just inside the box. He touched it to his left before hitting through a ruck of players into the bottom left hand corner leaving Auchinleck keeper William Muir rooted to the spot

Auchinleck controlled a lot of the possession throughout the contest, but Carluke’s discipline and hard work made them difficult to break down. Whenever the Ayrshire side did manage to carve out chances, they found Rovers goalkeeper Garry Black in inspired form. He pulled off at least three superb stops, tipping an effort over the bar in the 65th minute and pushing another two efforts round the post to keep his side in it.

Talbot eventually regained the lead in the 70th minute through Ross Cark, and at that stage it looked as though they might see the tie out. But Carluke showed their resilience once again, and just ten minutes later Ben Patterson struck to make it 2–2 and what a strike it was. It was another Carluke corner swung in from the right and again Talbot did not clear their lines effectively. The ball broke to Ben Patterson just inside the box and the Rovers midfielder gave the Keeper no chance with a beautifully curved left foot shot into the far top corner.

Although Auchinleck pushed for a winner they only created one more chance that Black in the Carluke goal again saved well. The game ended 2-2 and went straight to penalties. Unfortunately for Carluke Rovers they narrowly lost out 5-4 in the shootout but the fact they had held Auchinleck, by far the best team in the West of Scotland leagues to a draw was a great testament as to how they have grown as a squad and their togetherness as a team.

It doesn’t get any easier as next it is Gretna FC 2008 in the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup with a 3pm kickoff this Saturday at the John Cumming Stadium. It would be great if you can all get along and make the 12th man for the Rovers.

Sadly this match was marred midway through the second half when Carluke midfielder Steven Logan suffered a horrific ankle and fibia break which has ended his football career. The Club have started a Gofundme Page for him while he is unable to work and will support him throughout his recuperation.

Anyone wishing to donate to the GoFundMe should visit https://gofund.me/7f3b8ef97
 

Photography by Kevin Ramage