Rovers beat Lesmahagow again

Carluke's Ian Watt strikes a free-kick towards goal during the win against Lesmahagow on Saturday (Pic by Sarah Peters)

Second half goals by Stevie Murray and Lewis McDougall earned Carluke the derby spoils and left Lesmahagow looking over their shoulders in Central Division 1.

Rovers committee man Craig Martin said: “It was a massive result for us.

“It was a hard working performance rather than one full of flair but beating ’Gow was a big scalp.

“Everyone is together and we are all in the fight.”

Seventh placed Rovers now have an 11-point cushion over the relegation places. Martin feels that victory at strugglers Vale of Clyde this Saturday will dispel any lingering threat of relegation for his side.

“We are looking to be mid table,” he said. It is achievable.

“I don’t think we’ll reach the heights of last season when we finished fifth.

“We just need to secure safety and then build for next year when we’ll hopefully be pushing for promotion.”

After a lacklustre start to last Saturday’s derby, proceedings burst into life on 59 minutes when Rovers’ Mark Haddow somehow put the ball over from just two yards out after the ball had been squared by Ian Watt.

But the visitors did score on 72 minutes when Weir’s corner from the right was powerfully headed home by Murray at the back post.

And they netted a second on 87 minutes when McDougall slammed the ball home.

’Gow won a late penalty for Murray’s foul on Fitzpatrick, but Carluke keeper Jonny Grier saved Hall’s effort.

Gutted ’Gow boss Billy MacDonald said his team must find a way of ending their Carluke hoodoo, having been beaten 2-1 in this season’s earlier league game at Carluke.

“Carluke defended really well but from our point of view I was disappointed,” he said.

“I showed our players a video of the game on Monday; we had bad shape and everything was shocking.

“Some of them were embarrassed watching it. Hopefully it will spur them on.”