John Cumming Stadium, Carluke
Carluke Rovers v Larkhall Thistle
Central League First Division
Thistle travelled to Carluke’s community multi-use sports facility with binoculars in hand and with only one change from last week’s win at Wishaw, Burns replacing Andy Brown who was ill. Mark McKeever had an early chance to put Larkhall in front after just two minutes when he latched on to a loose ball but his shot was blocked for a corner. Two minutes later Carluke’s first break up the park resulted in chaos in the Jags defence as they gifted the ball to Watt who blasted it into the top corner.
Thistle nearly went further behind in the 16th minute as a long ball over the top caught the defence out and Carluke were unlucky as the scooped shot came back off the bar.The number 9 following up skied the ball with an open goal at his mercy.
Four minutes later McKeever missed a header from point blank range from a good cross by Reid, it was a chance a natural striker would have snapped up.
Half Time: Carluke Rovers 1 Larkhall Thistle 0
The second half was less than a minute old when Thistle drew level, Ryan Innes pouncing on a loose ball in the box and planting it in the bottom corner. He was booked a minute later for a tackle. Five minutes later Matty Clarke went on a mazy run and set up half time substitute Josh Payne – on for Doyle – but he shot past.
Keeper Stuart Thomson picked up a knock and had to be replaced by young David Thomson (below) who did well in the remainder of the game.
Innes nearly put Thistle ahead with ten minutes left when he stoopped to head a cross from a Payne free kick after Reid had been fouled on the left.
Brian Jack looked like he had won the game with a turn and shot from the edge of the box but the keeper got down well to save.
Full Time: Carluke Rovers 1 Larkhall Thistle 1
Scorer: Innes
Booked: Innes
Larkhall Thistle:
S.Thomson, Doyle (Payne 45), Reynolds, Marshall, Burns; Innes, Kelly, Jack, Reid, McKeever (Gracie 58), Clarke
Website MoM: No five star performances today but Jordan Marshall recovered well from a shaky start to cover for the shortcomings of the rest of the defence.