Neilston 4-2 Carluke Rovers: Rovers defeated at league leaders

The game kicked off with Carluke playing with the wind and as early as the second minute they were awarded a penalty.

Gary Livingstone’s long free-kick fell to Lewis Hill and his attempted shot was blocked by the arm of a Neilston defender. The referee did not hesitate in pointing to the spot although the decision did look harsh on Neilston.

The spot kick was duly converted by Eddie Haley to make the score 1-0 to Carluke.

Neilston attempted to hit back immediately in the fourth minute when the ball broke to Kieran Brophy in the Rovers box but his shot was brilliantly saved by the feet of Dean Wilson.

Neilston were starting to dominate possession and it came as no surprise when in the 22nd minute they snatched an equaliser.

A corner from the left broke to Dylan Fletcher, whose shot from outside the box found the bottom corner through a ruck of players.

It only took Neilston two minutes to increase their lead.

A ball from the right broke to a Neilston striker and he rolled the ball to the side for the onrushing Connor Bolger, who coolly slotted home.

Neilston’s tails were now up and in the 28th minute calamitous defending handed Neilston their third goal on a plate.

As the ball was running over the byline for a corner, Rovers attempted to keep it in play.

However, that was only to the benefit of Neilston who picked up on the loose ball and the resultant shot nearly looped over the keeper but he just managed to keep it out.

Unfortunately for Rovers, the ball fell to the feet of Adam Forde, who had the simplest of tasks to make the score 3-1.

After Haley’s tame shot was saved in the second half, Neilston scored their fourth when Wilson could only parry a cross to Forde, who had the easiest of tasks to knock the ball into the empty net.

Carluke, with experienced new signing Garry Fleming now orchestrating things in midfield, having started in front of the central defence, pulled a goal back on 73 minutes.

Hill slotted away a penalty kick after being brought down in the box.

Carluke’s chances were then killed off when Fleming received a straight red card for serious foul play.

Rovers, 10th with four points from seven games, are next in league action at home to Gartcairn on Saturday, January 9, at 1.45pm.

Their local rivals Lanark United didn’t play on Saturday as their scheduled home Conference C game against Yoker was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

United, fourth with 10 points from six games, resume on January 9 at St Anthony’s.