Another cup game for Carluke today and this time it was away to Dundee side, Tayport in the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup 2nd Preliminary Round. Tayport are a top team with an impressive history playing in the East Premier League.

It was a lovely afternoon and although the grass pitch was hard it was in good condition and so no excuses for either team.

The game kicked off and both teams started cautiously trying to get a feel for what they were up against as this was the first ever meeting between the Clubs. The first opportunity fell the way of Tayport in the 16th minute. The ball was crossed from the left back position into the path of the Tayport striker. He controlled it before shooting but Eoin Wallace in the Carluke goal was equal to it and pushed the ball to safety.

This was a game of very few chances with both defences coping well with their opposition and so it was no surprise it took another 15 minutes before Tayport carved out another opportunity. Their initial shot was blocked by the Rovers defence and when the rebound broke to man of the match, Stefan Elvin, the combative midfielder shot whistled past the post. Two minutes later the same player struck one from 25 yards which skimmed the top of the bar.

Then on the stroke of halftime, with the last kick of the half, Tayport took the lead. A long throw from the right wing flicked off the head of a stretching Kyle McAdam and dropped at the feet of Tayport’s Dale Reid. The striker picked his spot giving Wallace no chance in the Rovers goal. The teams went in at halftime with Tayport one up but Carluke still very much in the tie.

The second half played out very much as the first half with few chances and defences on top but with no shortage of effort from both sides midfielders and forwards. Mikey Downs was doing his best to hold play up but Tayport were tenacious with their closing down and Rovers were finding it difficult to get their passing game going. On the few occasions they did they looked dangerous.

However the same could be said for Carluke’s tenacity and it took a dubious penalty to give Tayport the opportunity to extend their lead in the 50th minute. A shot from the edge of the box was deemed to hit a Carluke arm and the Referee awarded the penalty.

A penalty this season though is no guarantee of a conversion as Eoin Wallace in the Carluke goal has a great record of saves and did not disappoint today guessing correctly and pushing the ball to safety.

In the 56th minute Tayport’s Nairn Lowe cut in from left back but his attempt at a deft chip was easily handled by Wallace in goal.

The big Keeper though could do nothing to deny Tayport their second goal and ultimately the winner in the 68th minute. A low cross from the right found Dale Reid and the striker’s effort from close range was deflected past Wallace into the net to make the score 2-0.

Despite all of Carluke’s endeavours it never looked like they would get back into this one and so it turned out with Tayport running out comfortable winners in the end.

However Carluke should take great encouragement from their two recent cup defeats against higher league opposition. In both cases the competed well and it is clear they deserve to be in this company. They now need to take it forward into the day to day business of league duty when the team are away to Irvine Vics next Saturday.

Good luck to Tayport in the next round of the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup and thanks to everyone involved at the Club for their hospitality.

Photography by Kevin Ramage