Ardeer Thistle progressed in the South Region Challenge Cup with a hard-fought 3–1 victory today over Carluke Rovers, but the scoreline only told part of the story as this was a very tight game which was only settled in the dying embers of the match.

Both sides started brightly with chances at either end but it was Ardeer who broke the deadlock on 28 minutes when Marc Wardrobe found space at the back post to head in the opener from a corner. Carluke, however, responded well and levelled just before half-time. Throughout the game there was nothing much between the teams and both sides spurned good chances. However Nicky Prentice beat the offside trap and rounded the keeper before rolling the ball into the empty net on 42 minutes, ensuring the sides went into the break all square.

The second half followed a similar pattern, with both sides creating chances but Ardeer could find no way past Eoin Wallace in the Carluke goal who pulled off a couple of brilliant saves and was composed throughout.

The next goal was going to be vital in this game and it came for Ardeer as Thomas Miller struck twice late on – first in the 74th minute and again deep into stoppage time on 94 minutes – to seal the win for Ardeer. His first goal was a well placed shot into the bottom corner from 20 yards and his second was from close range.

Carluke left Stevenston with plenty of credit against a team in the Division above. Carluke were also without the services of influential players Mark Cassidy and striker Gary Stewart but the players who came in performed well and it is testament to the depth of the squad which will be fully tested in the next couple of weeks with home games against Auchinleck Talbot and Gretna 2008.

Photography by Kevin Ramage