If ever there was an unjust score line, it was at Somervell Park in Cambuslang today. To say Vale of Leven should have worn masks would be an understatement. I don’t mean to be disrespectful to the Vale, but of the two managers, Hugh Hamill will be the one wearing a huge grin on his face this evening.
As kick off approached, it was bright, often too bright and lots of shadows were cast around the ground making photography difficult. The pitch was soft but playable.
Image by Stephen Kennedy
It only took ten minutes for the home side to take the lead. Mackie’s attempted shot was blocked but good fortune was with the Lang as Malone got to the ball first to fire low into the bottom left corner. Mackie had the chance to double their lead when he was put through one on one against keeper Grindlay, who spread himself well to prevent the second goal. However, he was injured for his valour and carried off to be replaced by Charlie Smith. The substitute keeper was called into action pretty much from him taking up his position between the sticks. Two fine clearances, one from a punch and the other palmed away to safety.
Leven’s Alan Brown tried his luck from 20 yards, on the right but his effort was a yard or so beyond the left upright. Vale of Leven equalised with a goal which can only be described as comical. A through ball was played too long for the Vale’s strikers and Graham Jaap had the simple task of passing back to his keeper to clear. Unfortunately Montgomery was already on his way out to collect the ball and the pair watched in horror as the ball trundled into the empty net. One each with 30 minutes on the clock.
Other than the goals, this first half was a rather drab affair. Too many long, high balls, which more often than not came to nothing. There was little in the form of entertainment although the banter in the crowd behind me was exceptional as always.
The Lang’s scorer Aiden Malone was warned by referee Rodney Marshall for making “snide” remarks. With his fellow players bawling at him to walk away and keep his mouth shut, the lad muttered something to the ref and was was duly booked. A frivolous yellow card that could have been so easily avoided.
Brown hit a wonderful free kick from all of 30 yards, which forced Montgomery to produce an awesome diving save, low to his left. Top class goalkeeping! Minutes later, Gourlay delivered a perfect cross, which Russell met with his head, coercing Montgomery into another amazing save, this time diving low to his right, just getting his finger tips to the ball to prevent the visitors taking the lead.
The last action of the half, was at the opposite end as Mackie played Malone in, but his control let him down in the first instance. Luck was on his side as the ball came back to him but his close range shot was blocked for a corner. The cross was delivered too close to keeper Smith but his first attempt at clutching the ball was not ideal, as he fumbled it, gathering at the second attempt.
Half-Time: Cambuslang 1 Vale of Leven 1. As previously mentioned, this game was not the most exhilarating event other than the goals and a couple of splendid saves. I made up for lack of action on the field of play by snapping the crowd; unbeknown to them of course!
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Within five minutes of the restart, Cambuslang took the lead. Mackie playing the ball from central midfield to a wide right position for Malone. The number two working hard to find the space to deliver the cross into the box, where Kilmartin had ran in to bury the ball in the back of the net.
Malone delivered a great cross from a dead ball situation on the left; the ball hanging in the air, begging a Rangers’ players’ head to send it home but it was the safe hands of Smith that gathered the ball. Mackie was next to try after a long ball released him 25 yards from the goal. As he entered the box, Smith saved brilliantly at the feet of the striker.
Kilmartin was to be found working well with Craig Ferguson on the right, with the former crossing into the back of the penalty area, the ball eluding everyone but McFarlane; his shot narrowly traversing the post.
It was all one way traffic as the team in the blue shirts literally pummelled the Vale goal. Mackie struck a free kick, which was one of those embarrassing ones that didn’t come off but the ball came back to him, and his left footed strike from distance cruised over the bar – much closer than keeper Smith maybe thought.
Malone produced some nice footwork on the left, taking the ball around the defender before his luck ran out as the ball was cleared; only as far as Ferguson, who fired low and hard; his effort a good yard wide of target.
If the first half was a rather mundane affair, the second was electric, albeit in the favour of the “Wee Gers”. Vale of Leven’s attempts on goal were few and far between, mainly from reckless or impulsive shots, with Montgomery never being tested. That was until 75 minutes of play as an Alex Lacy effort, curled up and down, skimming the bar. If the framework was still of a wooden construction, it would have lost a shaving as the ball acted like a carpenter’s plane, such was the precision of the shot.
Malone was the provider once more as the Lang broke on the left. His cross falling kindly for Ferguson. His left peg striking the ball from 15 yards but was blocked, amidst claims of “hand ball”. Nothing doing said Mr. Marshall. Kilmartin provided Mackie with the opportunity to kill the game stone dead, with a neat pass to release the number nine, beating the offside trap. As he entered the box, his skill leaving the keeper on one knee but his shot redirected by the slightest of touches from the gloves of Smith. The danger however was not over as Ferguson picked up the ball, blasting it goal bound only to find Smith standing on his line, to claim the ball. Fantastic goalkeeping again. With hindsight, Mackie may have wished he had walked the ball around the keeper and into the vacant net.
Malone and Kilmartin, with some tidy play on the right, put the latter into the box. With nowhere to go, he returned the ball to Malone who got caught it two minds. Shoot or cross? In the end neither from eight yards as the ball flew to safety.
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The tackle of the game came as Ferguson put Malone through on the right side of the box. Just as the trigger was about to be pulled, Cavana arrived from nowhere, sticking a leg in at the vital moment to prevent a certain goal.
With minutes left to play, and Cambuslang having dominated the entire second half, they paid the price for an assortment of missed chances in front of goal. Vale of Leven earned a free kick, 25 yards out, on the left. Up stepped Cowan to deliver a curling shot, which fell into the right of the goal, much to the delight of those on the Vale’s bench.
Totally against the run of play and nothing short of day light robbery but if you don’t take your chances, more often than not, you pay the price and Rangers paid with the loss of two points.
All credit to Leven, they weathered the storm and hit Cambuslang where it hurts. On the other hand Alan Wardlaw will be wondering how on earth his side had not collected the three points.
A small reference to referee Rodney Marshall, who received dog’s abuse from both sets of fans. In his defence, he is doing a thankless job, with no help due to the lack of assistants and his performance was as well as one could expect under the circumstances. So come on junior fans, give the guys a break – would you do their job under these conditions?
Cambuslang Rangers: Montgomery, Malone, McCabe, Timoney, Jaap, Barr, Esplin, Bishop, Mackie, Kilmartin, Macleod Subs: McFarlane, O’connell, Stevenson, Morgan, Ferguson, Doak, Wardlaw
Vale of Leven: Grindlay, Wilson, Wardle, Cavana, Lacy, Gourlay, Brown, Fushie, Russell, McNaught, Cowan Subs: Bowie, McKenzie, Dickie, Daremas, Martin, McQueen, Smith
Man of the Match: I deliberated over this one for some time. Ferguson was brilliant in the second period for Cambuslang. Both keepers made spectacular saves Montgomery in the first 45 and Smith in the second. But Aiden Malone was the man that stood out. He appeared on the left wing, followed by the right, scored the opener, delivered excellent crosses from dead ball situations; his only flaw, was a senseless yellow card. Malone for me was MOM.
I would like to offer my sincere gratitude to young Scott for welcoming me at the gate, showing me around and providing the team lines. To Jim Logan our tweeter at Cambuslang for again, making me feel at home and the committee for their hospitality and a most welcome “mug” of coffee after the final whistle as the coldness fell on Somervell Park. Top drawer lads and truly appreciated.
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Image by Stephen Kennedy
