The Rovers welcomed their visitors for the return Division 4 league fixture. In the earlier fixture at Bishopbriggs Carluke had run out 4-1 winners. The Rovers would not have such an easy task this time.
At kick-off the hosts played into a strong wind, and it was evident that the blustery conditions would have a significant impact on the quality of football played.

Despite pressure from their visitors, it was Carluke who had the opening chance. On 7 minutes, a lob from Rovers McAdam from just inside the Rossvale half was chased down by Downs. He held off the pressure from the Rossvale defender, but his lobbed shot, from just outside the box, flew harmlessly over the stranded Rossvale keeper and bar.
Both teams were putting pressure on their opponent’s defence without much to show for it.
On 17 minutes a speculative Rossvale shot from 25 yards brought out a dive and catch from Rover’s keeper, Black.

A few minutes later, a long throw from Coyle on the right was picked up by McAdam on the left side of the box. He passed the ball back to Rennie on the edge of the penalty area. His shot however, through the crowded box was easily saved by the Rossvale stopper.

On the half hour mark, a Rossvale attack down the left resulted in a shot across the Carluke 6-yard line. An excellent stop at the Rovers near post ahead of an oncoming Rossvale forward, by the impressive Shiels, appeared to put the ball out but it was played back in when it appeared to be out of play. Once again it was Shiels who got to the ball while on the ground. A scramble of players to get to the loose ball failed to stop it going out of play for a corner to Rossvale.

A corner to Carluke on 37 minutes was fired in by McAdam. It passed through the crowd of players on the Rossvale 6-yard line. It was controlled by Rover’s captain Grenfell and fired back across the goal where it was kept out by a Rossvale defender at the back post and cleared.

The Rovers continued to put pressure on their visitor’s goal and their efforts were rewarded in the 40th minute.
A free kick on the left, 10 yards outside the Rossvale box, was taken by McIntyre. He floated his kick towards the back post, where it was returned across the goal by Cassidy. Shiels managed to get a foot to the ball and fired into the Rossvale net to put Carluke ahead.

HT Rovers 1 – 0 Rossvale

The second half continued in the same fashion as the first with both teams putting pressure on defences.

A couple minutes into the half, the visitors played out from the back. From just inside their half they played an excellent ball through the Rovers defence, which was picked up Rossvale’s Walsh. He continued his run into the Rovers box where he was only stopped by keeper Black going to ground to smother the ball.

As the weather deteriorated the playing conditions became difficult for both teams.

Carluke continued to press and on 50 mins Shiels played a ball from the left into a crowded Rossvale box. It was picked up by McAdam on the right. He moved the ball across the box in an attempt to get a shot off. With his back to the goal, he passed to Shiels just outside the box. His shot looked net bound, but it skimmed the top of the bar and went out of play.

The visitors continued to press for the equaliser however the Carluke defence held, as the weather worsened into driving rain and sleet.

Just passed the hour mark, Carluke substitute Stewart controlled a lob into the Rossvale box. His shot across the 6-yard box from the left beat the Rossvale keeper but rolled inches past the righthand upright.
He was substituted 15 minutes later when he fell on his hand on the Rossvale byline, which resulted in a broken and dislocated finger.

As the game drew to a close it was the visitors who piled on the pressure on their opponent’s goal.

On 86 minutes a ball into the Rovers box was cleared but picked up by a Rossvale forward. His shot across the Rovers goal was not stopped and was almost put in the net by the outstretched foot of an unmarked Rossvale player.

In the last minute of the 5 minutes of time added on, the visitors had their best chance to equalise. Once again, a ball was played across the Rovers box and missed by the defence before it landed at the feet of an unmarked Rossvale player on the 6-yard line, at the Rovers back post. With only the keeper to beat his shot missed and flew harmlessly over the bar. Before it landed the referee had blown for fulltime.

FT Rovers 1 – 0 Rossvale

Rovers are on league duty again next week when they travel to the Showpark in East Kilbride to play East Kilbride Thistle.

Photography by Kevin Ramage