Premier aces see off Carluke Rovers with just 10 men
Carluke Rovers travelled to Rosewell in Midlothian on Saturday for a second-round Soccer Shop Direct Challenge Cup tie against Whitehill Welfare from the East of Scotland League’s premier division, writes Stevie Kane.
Injuries and covid-19 isolations for this second-round clash forced Rovers boss Mark Weir to promote under-20s players Liam Sneddon and Jamie Murphy. The latter started in central defence next to the experienced Maxi Neossi.
Whitehill’s task became much tougher after 20 minutes when their striker Wayne McIntosh was shown a straight red card after kicking out in an off-the-ball incident.
Despite their numerical disadvantage, the hosts took the lead within six minutes when Robert McKenzie ran on unchallenged to slot the ball under the advancing Josh Kane in the Carluke goal.
Rovers’ Jamie Dickson then had a corner cleared off the line before James Frame hit the side netting from a tight angle.
The visitors wasted a great chance just before half-time when Eddie Haley headed straight at the keeper after Frame’s initial powerful shot had been parried.
After weathering Carluke pressure, Whitehill sealed the win in the second half when McKenzie cleverly dinked the ball over Kane.
But Forth Wanderers had better luck in the same cup on Saturday, with Josh McDonald, David Lamond, Sandro Savarese and Johnnie Branks scoring in a 4-2 home second round win over Threave Rovers.
Fixtures this Saturday with 1.45pm kick-offs are: West of Scotland League Conference B – Carluke v Port Glasgow, Wishaw v Forth; Conference C – Lanark v Drumchapel United.