Rovers crash to Maryhill defeat

Maryhill's second goal flies past despairing Carluke goalkeeper Jonny Greer

Using the wind to their advantage, Maryhill pushed Rovers back and took the lead on 17 minutes when a half hit effort came back off the post before the rebound was hammered home.

This lead was doubled in 25 minutes when a break from midfield ended with a low shot past Jonny Grier for 2-0.

The visitors almost scored a third goal on 32 minutes with the home side looking for an offside that was not given but the effort went just wide.

Carluke forced a corner in 36 minutes but Mark Haddow’s header was wide.

Another corner by Scott Burns led to Haddow sending in a header which was netbound before being cleared off the line. The ball eventually ended at the feet of Ryan Smillie but his shot was just over the bar.

Rovers were not to be denied though as they continued to press with Smillie’s good work setting up Lewis McDougall and the young midfielder hit a sweet low shot from 25 yards that curled in to the net for 2-1.

Carluke saw good work from Haddow set up Smillie again in the 41st minute but again his effort was just over.

The visitors scored a scrappy third goal just before half-time as Carluke passed up chances to clear and a looping header made it 1-3 at half-time.

Carluke failed to take advantage of the wind at their backs in the second half and started slowly, allowing Maryhill to create a good chance which required an excellent stop from Grier.

They did however get what proved to be the killer fourth goal in the 48th minute when comic cuts defending saw Rovers squander chances to clear before the ball was stabbed home for 4-1.

The rest of the half was very poor on the entertainment front with Maryhill doing a good job of closing the match out and Carluke not doing enough to break them down.

The only bright spot of the half was when McCole picked the ball up all of 35 yards out in the 84th minute and hit a superb shot into the postage stamp corner for 4-2, but this proved to be far too little far too late.

The rest of the match failed to produce any chances for either side.

Rovers are eighth with 14 points from 11 matches.