Rossvale promotion dream is over after loss at Lesmahagow

Rossvale's bid for a second successive promotion is doomed after their 2-0 defeat at Lesmahagow on Wednesday night.
Rossvale's promotion bid is over.Rossvale's promotion bid is over.
Rossvale's promotion bid is over.

The defeat leaves the Bishopbriggs club in fifth place in the Central First Division table, 10 points adrift of second placed Maryhill with just three matches to play.

Rossvale were left with a mountain to climb last week after taking just one point out of nine from three games.

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The single point came from a 2-2 home draw with Vale of Clyde on Saturday which followed defeats at Renfrew (2-0) and Larkhall (6-3) last Monday and Wednesday.

Ironically their hopes had been thrown a lifeline on Monday when promotion rivals Wishaw also suffered a shock defeat at the hands of a Lesmahagow side battling to beat the drop.

But they were unable to take advantage and their loss to Lesmahagow, coupled with Maryhill’s 1-0 win at Vale of Clyde, means the end of their bid to reach the Super League.

Against Vale of Clyde Rossvale started the better team against Vale of Clyde and went one up when Corey Irvine’s pinpoint pass found Jay McKay who slotted past ’keeper McLenaghan.

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The score was even after 21 minutes as Cusack controlled a Hamill pass on his chest and held off Leadbetter before scooping the ball over ’keeper Brown.

Against the run of play Rossvale regained the lead on 53 minutes when Irvine’s diagonal cross evaded both Vale of Clyde centre-backs and McKay bulleted home a header from eight yards.

But five minutes from time the visitors grabbed a point when Stevenson evaded two challenges and drove in a low shot which was blocked by Brown’s legs before trundling agonisingly into the empty net.

On Wednesday Rossvale suffered at the hands of a Larkhall side out to avenge their 8-2 loss at Rossvale earlier in the season.

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Gracie drilled home Larkhall’s first after only four minutes and Reid slotted home a second eight minutes later.

Clarke bulleted home a header to make it 3-0 in the 20th minute and Payne curled in a fourth just before half-time.

Gracie made it five on the hour before Rossvale woke up and Erald Krasniqi volleyed home.

McKay pulled another back from the penalty sport after Nicol’s handball on the line earned him a red card but Jack lobbed Brown to restore the four-goal advantage.

McKay completed the scoring with Rossvale’s third.

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Renfrew just about tied up the title with their win over Rossvale last Monday.

After a goalless first half Renfrew went ahead in 56 minutes when Zok netted at the back post from a McDaid cross.

Rossvale hopes were killed off in the 84th minute when Jones took a Hocknull pass on the edge of the area, evaded one challenge and fired low past Connolly.