Carluke Rovers travelled the short distance to Newmains today for this end of season game against local rivals. Newmains still had an outside chance of ninth place that would see them promoted. Carluke on the other hand, already promoted, still had aspirations of finishing third.

The game got underway in benign conditions and there wasn’t much between the teams in the opening forays. However in the 14th minute Carluke took the lead. Good play in the middle of the park saw Mikey Downs flick on to Ben Patterson. The midfielder took his time and shot towards goal. His shot cannoned off the post but waiting in the wings was Gary Stewart who directed the ball into the roof of the net to open the scoring. 0-1 to Carluke.

This settled Carluke and for the most part they controlled the first half. It was therefore no surprise when they extended their lead in the 26th minute. Excellent one touch football as the ball passed to Gary Stewart and the goal scorer became provider when he cut the ball back to Mikey Downs who had plenty of time to side foot the ball into the bottom corner with the Newmains keeper stranded 0-2 to Carluke.

At this stage Newmains were not offering much going forward and the game was put to bed as a contest just on halftime. A Jamie McIntyre corner was swung to the back post and Ronon Shiels looped a header back across goal which went in off the post. 0-3 to Carluke at halftime.

The second half got underway with the game effectively over and this was borne out with the lack of goalmouth action in the half. Carluke were comfortable throughout and were rarely threatened. That was until the 87th minute. A Newmains freekick from inside their own half was met by the head of Graeme McMahon. The ball was well placed into the top corner giving Eoin Wallace in the Rovers goal no chance and a consolation for Newmains United.

This was the last of the action and Carluke ran out comfortable winners 1-3.

On Tuesday Carluke travel travel to East Kilbride to play Thistle in what could effectively be a play off for third place.