The Rovers travelled to Campbell Park with a determination to put a stop to their losing streak, which had persisted for 8 weeks.
Today’s opponents had other plans for the outcome of this 4th Division fixture, and it would be the home side that would prove victorious.

On an extremely heavy pitch both sides started brightly but it was the visitors which dominated play.
The first chance fell to Carluke’s Prentice on 6 minutes. A ball played by McAdams to Rennie on the wing just outside the home box was crossed into the box and met, at the near post, by the outstretched foot of Prentice. His touch was goal bound but was stopped by the foot of the Saltcoats keeper.

Carluke continued to press for the first goal and were unlucky not to go ahead when a pass from the middle of the park found Rennie on the left. He passed to McAdams in the Saltcoats box, who quicky turned and fired a shot past the home keeper and towards the far post. Unfortunately, his effort slid harmlessly past the keeper’s left hand upright.

Approaching the half hour mark, the home side were almost gifted the first goal when an innocuous clearance from inside the Saltcoats half was headed on, to be picked up by a home forward on the left wing. He managed to get a cross into an almost empty Rover’s box, where Carluke’s keeper Black jumped, unhindered, to catch at his near post. Unfortunately, the ball slipped through the keeper’s gloves and, thankfully, bounced off the far post and back into play. Fortunately, Rover’s number 6, Cassidy was on hand to clear the danger.

Carluke continued to pursue the opening goal and their pressure on the Saltcoats goalmouth was rewarded on the half hour mark.
A pass from Cassidy found Prentice just outside a very congested Saltcoats box. As he moved easily past a defender he was tripped inside the home box, however a penalty was not given because as he fell, he managed to get a pass off to Cassidy. His pass across the box found Steele, whose shot was blocked, possibly by a defender’s hand, another penalty shout. The blocked shot fell to Carluke’s Shiels whose shot was also blocked, and this time the referee decided that an infringement had occurred and awarded a penalty.
Rovers number 10 Steele stepped up and slotted the kick into the side netting at the left hand upright.

A few minutes later the increasingly influential Prentice picked up a loose ball just outside the Saltcoats box. He turned and fired a shot which needed an excellent save from the home keeper to stop the Rovers extending their lead.

On the 40-minute mark Carluke’s Robinson was red carded when he was booked for the second time after he challenged for a ball on the halfway line.

Following on from this the Saltcoats substitute goalkeeper was also red carded after the half time whistle when he complained to the referee about the Carluke penalty

HT Saltcoats 0 – 1 Rovers

From the kick off to the second half, a ball was played up to Saltcoats Anderson on the left wing, just outside the Rovers box. He moved past Cassidy and fired a shot from just inside the box. The shot flew past Rover’s keeper Black, who got on a hand to it, but couldn’t keep it from hitting the back of the net, just inside the Rovers right hand post.
Despite this setback Carluke continued to put pressure on the Saltcoats back line and keeper.

On the hour mark the referee produced the third red card of the day when Saltcoats McIntyre was sent off for a reckless tackle on Carluke’s McAdam.

Despite the balance of players being restored, Carluke couldn’t find the goal which would bring them their win. Indeed, it was the home side which would grab all three points.
As the game edged towards the finish, the home side were awarded a corner with 10 minutes left on the clock. The corner was fired towards the six-yard box where it was played by a Saltcoats forward. His shot was blocked, but before the Rovers defence could clear the loose ball it was played by Saltcoats Hanlon who fired into the back of the Carluke net.

FT Saltcoats 2 – 1 Rovers

Carluke will travel to Bishopbriggs next week to play Rossvale at Huntershill Sports Hub.

Photography by Kevin Ramage