2-0 win boosts Lanark United title bid

Lanark's Paul Hewitt heads his team in front against Vale of Leven (Pic by Sarah Peters)

United – who lost three straight league games in February – look to have halted a slide which threatened to derail their impressive start to the campaign.

Manager John Brogan said: “We are confident of promotion.

“We have had a wee blip but we are still going well.

“We are solid at the back and getting goals.

“There are no easy games left. Everybody will be in danger of dropping points in the run-in.”

Brogan puts his side’s February slump down to a large injury list which has included losing their two top scorers, Brian Caldwell and Ryan Hutchison, for several months.

“Ryan – who has been out injured for four-and-a-half months – has still managed over 10 goals this season,” John said.

“He is now back in the team after playing 40 minutes on Saturday and that is important.

“Brian has been out injured for three months with an ankle knock but hopefully he will be back in another week or two. He is also in double figures for goals this season.”

The first half of Saturday’s game at Moor Park was mostly a midfield struggle with neither side creating any real scoring chances.

This changed at the start of the second half when Kieron McGurk came close with a header on 48 minutes.

The resultant corner on the right was played short to John Renwick and when his cross came over Paul Hewitt headed strongly past Morrison to open the scoring.

Vale almost equalised on 53 minutes when a shot by Scott Arthur was blocked by ‘keeper Ryan Cherrie.

Arthur was again out of luck when his shot rebounded back off the crossbar.

Lanark doubled their score on 79 minutes when Hewitt controlled a left wing cross from Alan Christie before driving his shot into the net to complete the scoring.

“We were a bit flat in the first half but we played well in the second,” Brogan added.

“Paul Hewitt has been a brilliant signing for us since coming in from Thorniewood at the turn of the year.

“We’ve got a massive game at Port Glasgow on Saturday. If we win we’ll be three points in front of them with a game in hand.”