Today Carluke welcomed Saltcoats Victoria to the John Cumming Stadium for this West of Scotland League match. Rovers were looking to continue their good run which has seen them win five of their last six matches as they push for promotion.

The game got underway with Carluke playing with a strong win at their backs and were expecting to spend a lot of time in the Saltcoats half and so it transpired. The first goal for Carluke came in the 15th minute. A long throw from Connor Coyle was punched clear by Robertson in the Saltcoats goal but only to the feet of Jamie McIntyre. The midfielder touched the ball to the side and in doing so had his legs taken from under him and a penalty was awarded. The same player duly knocked the ball into the bottom corner to give Carluke the lead 1-0.

It took only a further minute for Carluke to double their advantage. A good move saw the ball fed out to Mikey Downs on the right wing. The striker held the ball up and set up Kyle McAdam whose shot was parried by the Saltcoats keeper. However only as far as Ben Rennie who hit it first time past a couple of defenders and the keeper to make it 2-0 to Carluke.

Carluke were dominating possession and territory at this stage and Ronan Shiels just flashed a header past the post. A third goal was coming though and it duly arrived in the 29th miunte. Good intricate passing in the build up saw the ball passed to McIntyre inside the box. He cleverly stepped past his marker and placed a lovely shot into the bottom corner well out of the reach of Robertson in the Saltcoats goal. 3-0.

Carluke were conscious that Saltcoats Victoria would have the benefit of the strong wind in the second half and were determined to give themselves as much of a cushion as was possible. They kept pressing and their efforts were rewarded two minutes into added time in the first half. Another long throw in from Connor Coyle flew all the way to the back post where it was met in the air by Ronan Shiels who knocked it down into the corner, adding to his own goal tally this season and giving Carluke a comfortable 4-0 lead at the break.

The second half got underway and it was Carluke who should have extended their lead still further in the 50th minute. Another good move saw the ball played into Kyle McAdam. The striker beat his man nicely and with the goal gaping he put it past the left hand post.

In the second half Saltcoats had more of the ball due to the wind but Mark Cassidy and Olly Grenfell in the heart of the Rovers defence were in complete control and were dictating the tempo of the game. It was most likely going to take a set piece move for Saltcoats to get past Garry Black in the Rovers goal and so it was to prove. Saltcoats won a freekick just outside the box in the centre of the pitch. Adam Love took it and his effort thundered off the underside of the bar resting in the Rovers net with Black having no chance to stop it. 4-1
 
This was a setback for Carluke but it didn’t stop them from continuing to play controlled football out of defence rather than long balls into the prevailing wind. They were still well in command of the game and their lead never looked to be threatened.

The game was over a contest in the 78th minute when Kyle McAdam nipped in front of the keeper only to be pulled down resulting in a second Rovers penalty. Again it was taken by Jamie McIntyre who slotted the ball straight down the middle to complete a great hattrick for the midfielder and make the final score Carluke Rovers 5 Saltcoats Victoria 1.

Carluke now have a rest next Saturday before the run in to the end of the season when another long trip to Campbeltown awaits and hopefully another three points which will see the Club officially promoted.

Photography by Kevin Ramage