Forth Wanderers 2-3 Lanark United: United one win away from title glory

Lanark United took a huge step towards the McBookie.com League Two title with a 3-2 victory at local rivals Forth Wanderers on Saturday, writes Craig Martin.
Lanark United striker Ian Watt (left) in action at Forth Wanderers on Saturday (Pic by George Reid)Lanark United striker Ian Watt (left) in action at Forth Wanderers on Saturday (Pic by George Reid)
Lanark United striker Ian Watt (left) in action at Forth Wanderers on Saturday (Pic by George Reid)

The home side had done Lanark a huge favour by beating second placed Lesmahagow 5-2 on Wednesday but they were second best here.

Lanark had a chance on 19 minutes when a free-kick from the left found Lewis Hill with the Forth keeper off his line. The ball fell for Kerr but after a quick turn his scuffed shot went wide.

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Forth then attacked on the left and Duffy’s shot forced Miller into a fine save.

With half-time approaching Lanark created a chance when a Cammy Lawson ball found Hill but his shot went just over the bar.

Then a long throw-in from Forth was knocked across goal but Anderson could not reach it at the back post.

A great ball from Lanark left back Sam Anderson then found Martin who cut inside before unleashing a low shot from 20 yards that found the corner of the net for 1-0 to the visitors.

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Lanark increased their lead on 50 minutes after Ian Watt’s header following a corner was handled at the expense of a penalty which Lewis Hill scored.

Josh Gracie shot just wide for Lanark before they did score a third when a clever ball from Watt found Dan McHugh who thundered a shot in off the underside of the bar.

Forth pulled a goal back on 83 minutes when Andrew Skinner fired the ball past Miller for 3-1.

And the hosts pulled it back to 3-2 in added time when Scott Anderson smartly turned home a corner. But United held on to win and maintain their eight-point lead at the top.

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The title will be clinched if United win at Muirkirk in their penultimate league game of the season tomorrow (Wednesday), kick-off 7pm.

Lanark have no game this Saturday but will complete their league campaign on Saturday, May 11 at home to Vale of Clyde, KO 2pm.