Cumbernauld climb up table with win over Shettleston

A goal in each half against Shettleston at Guy's Meadow on Saturday was enough to seal a 2-0 win and full points for Cumbernauld United.
Cumbernauld were comfortable winners over ShettlestonCumbernauld were comfortable winners over Shettleston
Cumbernauld were comfortable winners over Shettleston

It was a comfortable second successive home victory for the locals who played well and should have won by a bigger margin.

On a fine sunny day the game began quietly with United in command and they had the ball in the Shettleston net after 16 minutes only to be ruled offside.

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On the half hour mark, in a move with Mikey McLaughlin, Martin Shiels sent a great ball low across goal but unfortunately none of the home men were able to take advantage.

The game needed a goal and it arrived in the 34th minute. Following some silky United movement skipper Paul Murphy sent Chris Lennon away and the big striker made no mistake in putting the ball past Gary Whyte in the Shettleston goal.

There was no further scoring before the interval.

Following the break the visitors applied some pressure and Cumbernauld keeper David Buchanan had to look lively to save low down from Richard McIntosh.

Buchanan again was in action when it took him three attempts to deal with a dangerous crossball.

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But in the 53rd minute United got a second goal when, from a through pass from midfield, Shiels outpaced the visiting defence to run on and beat the advancing keeper.

Davie Dickson replaced the hard working McLaughlin before United had an anxious moment when, from a Shettleston free-kick, Robert Campbell missed the chance to reduce the arrears with a header.

Shiels had a great opportunity to again get on the scoresheet when he, for the second time, got clear of the visiting defence but he placed his shot into the side netting.

Moments later the same player’s speed again took him in on the keeper but his unselfish attempt to feed Lennon was thwarted by the long arm of Whyte on the ground.

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Although Shettleston tried hard they were unable to pierce the home defence and United celebrated another three points and a move up the Super League First Division table.

For more junior football reports on last week’s midweek games involving Cumbernauld United and Kilsyth Rangers, see Sports Digest section on page 37.