Rovers taught finishing lesson in loss

A lesson in how to take your chances was dished out to Carluke Rovers during last Saturday's 3-0 Central Division 1 defeat at Rossvale.
Rossvale net their second goal in Saturday's victory over Carluke Rovers (Pic by Jamie Forbes)Rossvale net their second goal in Saturday's victory over Carluke Rovers (Pic by Jamie Forbes)
Rossvale net their second goal in Saturday's victory over Carluke Rovers (Pic by Jamie Forbes)

Rovers passed up several opportunities to open the scoring before being put to the sword by their hosts.

Rovers match reporter Craig Martin said: “It was the usual story. We were well on top of them and then they scored with their first attack.

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“We are by no means safe from relegation. We still need a few victories.”

The first of Carluke’s chances came in the sixth minute when Ryan Smillie forced a corner which eventually found its way to Chick McCole and his ball in was headed onto the Rossvale crossbar by Stevie Murray before being cleared.

This was the first of 12 first half corners for Carluke producing chances for Mark Haddow, Murray again and Ian Watt, none of which were taken.

Rossvale scored in their first attack when poor defending saw the ball ping pong back and forward before a scuffed shot from Hepburn put them 1-0 up in 26 minutes.

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Watt was unlucky to see a free-kick go just wide for Carluke but it was in fact Rossvale who finished the half stronger with Mark Weir clearing an effort off the Rovers line and Jonny Grier bringing off a fine save.

The second half saw Carluke struggle to get decent balls in to the front pairing of Watt and Smillie and the home side grew in confidence because of this.

The second Rossvale goal came in the 57th minute when a long ball to the back post was laid into the path of Irvine who put an excellent shot beyond Grier for 2-0.

Carluke had a chance in the 64th minute, again following a corner. Haddow headed the ball to Smillie, who in turn fed Watt, but his effort was well saved.

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The match was put beyond doubt in the 80th minute when Rossvale scored an excellent third goal with a chip over the head of the advancing Grier by Cassells for 3-0.

The last action for Carluke came in stoppage time when Smillie saw an effort from distance land on the roof of the net.

This was another disappointing result and leaves Rovers in the bottom half of the table with 21 points from 18 games.

Carluke: Grier, Bellew, Murray, Wilson, McDougall, McCole, Haddow, McGoldrick, Weir (Stark), Watt, Smillie.