Carluke travelled to Renfrew this week for this West of Scotland 4th Division league game against St Peters who also have ambitions of getting out of the Division.

The game started at a rapid pace with both teams fighting for every ball and no quarter given. St Peters were slightly the better team at the start and managed to get an early breakthrough. A break from defence saw St Peters through on goal. With only the keeper to beat the midfielder passed to Daniel Sinclair on his right who had the easiest of chances and rolled the ball into the empty net. 1-0 to St Peters.

A key factor in the outcome of this game would be the amazing long throws of Connor Coyle and it was one such throw in the 15th minute that got Rovers their equaliser. His throw wnt to the back post catching out the St Peters defence where it was met by Ronan Shiels who rose higher than anyone else to nod the ball into the goal. 1-1

Carluke held on to this position for only 2 minutes when a throw down the left wing found an unmarked St Peters player. He carried the ball into the box and cut it back to Daniel Sinclair whose shot went in off the post off the fingertips of Garry Black to make it 2-1 to St Peters.

Carluke got their second equaliser 7 minutes later when a good move through the middle found the ball at the feet of Ben Rennie. He beat his man and from the edge of the box found the bottom left corner to pull Carluke level.

The game was played at a frenetic pace from the outset with neither set of players getting any time on the ball. It was therefore no big surprise when another goal came within 3 minutes and this time it was for Carluke who took the lead for the first time. A corner on left went out through the other side and when it was crossed back into the box it found striker Gary Stewart who was perfectly placed to knock the ball over the line from close range to make it 3-2 to Carluke.

In a game that was end to end St Peters nearly hit back in the 38th minute. A good move down the left found the ball at the feet of Daniel Sinclair. The striker, who had caused problems throughout the first half, nearly got his hattrick but for a great save from Garry Black denying the big striker.

Carluke could have put clear daylight between themselves and St Peters from another corner but when the ball was flighted to the back post from a corner and then headed back into the box an unmarked Gary Stewart’s header went just over the bar.

However the respite for St Peters was short lived as in the 47th minute, with the last kick of the half, Jamie McIntyre scored a brilliant goal. Picking up a Gary Stewart pass in the middle of the St Peters half he strode forward and unleashed a piledriver from 25 yards into the top corner giving Liam McLaughlin in the St Peters goal no chance. 2-4 to Carluke.

The second half got underway with Carluke in a strong position following that late first half goal and St Peters having it all to do to get back on parity. However their chances of getting anything from the game were deeply diminished when in the 57th minute when a long throw from Connor Coyle reached Ross Steele, the midfielder swivelled just inside the box and shot low into the bottom corner. 2-5.

There then was a couple of sending offs. One for each team before St Peters got themselves a slight glimmer of hope with a goal in the 72nd minute but for all their efforts they did not further threaten the Carluke goal.

Rovers put the icing on the cake in the 95th minute when another long throw in from Connor Coyle found Ronan Shiels in the box and the defender laid the ball back to Ross Steele who calmy side footed the ball into the top corner from 10 yards out to make the final score in the St Peters 3 Carluke Rovers 6.

A good result for Carluke in their fight to get up to Division 3 next season. Next Saturday for Carluke it is back to the temporary home at Cliftonhill, home of Albion Rovers against Eglinton.

Photography by Kevin Ramage