Cambuslang fightback keeps them in second spot

Apr 1 2009 by Kenny Smith, Rutherglen Reformer

Cambuslang Rangers 3 Maryhill 2

CAMBUSLANG Rangers came out on top in a five-goal thrilling win over third placed Maryhill at the weekend.

The win avenged the 3-2 reverse Lang suffered in the opening league match of the season.

The Somervell park side played some excellent football, especially in the second half.

The win keeps Lang in second place and increased their lead over Maryhill to five points and Hill have two games in hand.

Lang manager Alan Wardlaw made two changes to the side that defeated Benburb last week.

Renwick and Marshall dropped to the bench with Donaldson and Hoey given starting slots. Keeper Jon Connelly was sitting out the final match of the three game ban so Glenn Weir remained in goal.

Things didn’t start to well for the home side as Maryhill took the game to Cambuslang.

The Lang were unable to get any sort of possession and were being put under a fair bit of pressure in the opening minutes.

Things looked pretty bleak when Hill had a cross into the box that got caught in the blustery wind and had Lang keeper Weir scrambling across his line.

The big keeper did well to tip it over the bar but in doing so appeared to collide with the post and sustained a gash to his face just above his eye. After lengthy treatment the keeper continued as Lang had no sub keeper on the bench.

Despite being put under the cosh for the opening 15 minutes, it was Lang who opened the scoring against the run of play. Hill player/coach O’Neil needlessly handled the ball in the box and ref pointed to the spot. Chris Queen stepped up and sent the Hill keeper the wrong way to give the Lang the lead.

Lang had keeper Weir to thank for keeping them level when he produced a fine double save to deny the Maryhill attackers. On the half hour mark Cambuslang should have been awarded a second penalty kick after another hand ball in the box but the ref refused to give this one.

Three minutes before the break and Cambuslang picked up the first booking of the afternoon. Bishop was cautioned after a bit of petulance that annoyed the ref who flashed the yellow card.

Weir was called into action again just before the break but he did well to tip Barr’s effort over the crossbar. Lang had a great chance to double their lead when Donaldson skinned the defender and his cross found Ogilvie, but the Lang striker took too long to get his shot away and the effort was blocked and the danger cleared.

Maryhill started the second half in similar fashion to the first only this time they were causing Cambuslang problems.

Five minutes after the restart and they were level.

McFadden burst down the line and his cross wasn’t dealt with by the Lang defence and this allowed Sawyers to nip in and tap home from close range. There was suspicion of offside but Cambuslang’s protests fell on deaf ears and the goal stood.

Cambuslang should have been back in front on 56 minutes. After an almighty goal mouth scramble the ball fell to Donaldson three yards out but he somehow had his effort blocked when it looked easier to score.

Hill cleared the danger up field and caught Cambuslang cold and indeed it was them that took the lead when their attacker slotted past Weir.

To Cambuslang’s credit they didn’t let their heads drop and were level within a minute.

A superb move was rounded off with an even better finish. Queen was played down the left hand side by Irvine, who continued his run into the box and was on hand to nod Queen’s inch perfect cross past the despairing dive of Hill’s keeper Montgomery.

Cambuslang should have been in front a few minutes later when Bishop headed inches wide fromsix yards out. Cambuslang then had Carlo Rea cautioned as was Hill’s Barr.

Cambuslang grabbed the dramatic winner with 15 minutes remaining.

Queen’s corner kick was missed by everyone and sneaked straight in at the near post despite the keeper’s best efforts to claw it back over the line.

But the referee was perfectly placed to award the goal and in fairness their weren’t many protests from Maryhill.

Cambuslang were still creating chances but were unable to convert any of them.

Cambuslang replaced Donaldson with Docherty on 76 minutes. The sub almost made an immediate impact when he found himself in on goal but the shot went inches wide of the far post.

Cambuslang used up some more time when they brought on Cunning for the hard-working Kenna. Maryhill should have grabbed an equaliser with two minutes remaining.

O’Neil’s cross came to Smith all of six yards out but he couldn’t keep the header down and it sailed harmlessly over Weir’s bar.

Cambuslang ran down the clock by introducing Renwick for Ogilvie in stoppage time.

Lang: Weir, Ferguson, Rea, Doak, Bishop, Kenna (Cunning 78), Irvine, Hoey, Ogilvie (Renwick 90), Donaldson (Docherty 75), Queen. Subs not used: Templeton, Marshall.

This weekend Cambuslang take a break from league duty and travel to take on Dunipace in the second round of the Central League Cup.

This match will be played to a finish with penalty kicks after 90mins if the tie is still level. Kick off is 2pm.

A bus will leave Sweepers at noon.