Carluke Rovers travelled through to Edinburgh today for this 2nd preliminary round in a Scottish Gas Scottish Cup tie. This was a welcome break for Carluke who are riding high at the top of the West of Scotland Fourth Division but it was also the biggest game of the season to date. The opponents were Tynecastle FC who last season played in the East of Scotland Premier League so it was going to be a good gauge as to how far the team have progressed this season.

The game kicked off on a perfect grass pitch and the first effort on goal fell to the home side when slack play at the back for Carluke saw the ball fall to Daniel Turnball whose effort from 25 yards skimmed the top of the bar. Then in the 14th minute Tynecastle broke through the middle but Garry Black came out of the Carluke goal and blocked the effort on the edge of the box.

The best chance in the first half fell to Tynecastle in the 31st minute. A cross from the right fell perfectly for Calum Forest but from point blank range and unmarked the player managed to skew his header wide of the post.

This was a half of very few chances but Carluke nearly snatched the lead in 44 minutes when Gary Stewart beat the offside trap and bore down on goal from the right wing. His resultant shot was going in at the far post but Jamie Rae in the Tynecastle goal managed to get an outstretched foot to it and avert a goal.

The teams went in at halftime all square and there was nothing between them in a game of very few chances.

The second half got underway and there was no doubt the first goal for either side was going to be vital and it took only 3 minutes into the half for it to arrive. Kyle McAdam ran through from midfield unmarked and from 25 yards hit a delightful chip over the Tynecastle keeper nestling the ball in the bottom of the net. This was the breakthrough that settled Rovers and within 10 minutes they effectively put the game to bed. Next a great interception by Ben Rennie saw the wing back charge down the left wing. He got inside the box and squared the ball to Kyle McAdam who coolly took a touch and placed the ball into the bottom left corner to make the score 0-2 and give Carluke valuable breathing space.

The visitors weren’t finished there and only three minutes later they put the game to bed in the 58th minute with a beautifully worked goal. Mark Cassidy picked the ball up midway inside the Tynecastle half and passed it to Ben Rennie. He continued his run overlapping Rennie who beat 2 players before Cassidy picked the ball up again. He then ran along the bye line and cut the ball back to Jamie McIntyre who calmly knocked the ball into the net.

Carluke were now in complete control and even missed a penalty on the hour mark when Ross Steele’s tenacious fighting forced the Tynecastle centre half to pull him down.

There were a couple of other gilt edged chances for Carluke to further increase their lead and with Olly Grenfell marshalling the Rovers defence Tynecastle never really looked like getting back into the game. At the final whistle Carluke Rovers enjoyed the plaudits of the away support where every player to a man played their part in the final outcome. The team were a credit to Thomas Devine and his coaching staff who have built this squad over the last couple of seasons and are now seeing the fruits of their labour. They can now look forward to the draw for the next round in what will ultimately be a difficult tie to relish.

However with success comes a stream of important games and next Saturday Carluke Rovers are away to Eglinton who sit second in the Division behind them.

Photography by Kevin Ramage