Rangers left thinking what if, as Petershill are let off the hook
IF Petershill are crowned Super First Division champions this season, title rivals Cambuslang Rangers may reflect on Saturday’s 2-2 draw as one of those opportunities lost to close the gap .
Lang assistant manager Jimmy Kerr put an upbeat face on things at the final whistle in saying: “I’d have bitten your hand off to be offered a point beforehand”, but deep down he must have been ruing his side’s inability to put away several clear-cut chances when 2-1 ahead.
One-time Aberdeen striker Calum McRobbie, whose blinding pace and partnership with Lang target-man John Gemmell posed problems for Petershill all afternoon, twice failed to convert one-on-one chances against keeper John Gibson – but he will not stand alone in the dock over how the league leaders were let off.
Experienced midfielder Davie Green’s needless 83rd-minute dismissal for kicking the ball away in the wake of Petershill levelling at 2-2 left his team-mates up against it.
Petershill had made the better start as the battle lines were drawn for this eagerly awaited top-of-the-table clash with skipper Jordan Murch, the most dominant player on the park, to the fore along with skilful front man Chrissy Hall. However, the visitors soaked up the early onslaught and responded with a wonderful breakaway goal just six minutes into the contest.
A passing move from the back led to Chris Duff poking a through ball at full stretch that reached midfielder Dale Simeon and he sublimely curled a low shot past advancing goalkeeper Gibson and into the net.
Hall shot wide as Petershill probed for an equaliser which eventually arrived approaching the 20th minute when a left-foot Jason Hardie cross was headed home by Ian Gold from six yards.
The second half getting underway brought another early goal for the visitors as Gemmell turned and fired an 18-yard shot in off the far upright to make it 2-1.
Sandwiched between McRobbie’s misses, Cambuslang had the ball in the net again through Simeon only for the linesman to adjudge him offside.
ROSS Barclay, Luke Crerand and Scott McManus were thrown on and a fitting reward arrived with just eight minutes to play.
Crerand cut in from right to make it 2-2 with a fiercely struck shot high beyond Lang goalkeeper John Stewart. The momentum stayed with the home side over the closing stages but Cambuslang’s backline held firm for a share of the spoils.
Striker Gemmell said: “To play well and not win is disappointing but we’ll keep pegging away in our remaining games and see if Petershill can live with the pressure.”
Peasy team boss Patterson felt his team let themselves down with a Jekyll and Hyde type performance. He said: “I thought we were excellent against the wind first half despite giving away a very poor goal by our standards.
“But continuing to squeeze Cambuslang high up gave us a foothold and our equaliser was fully deserved but we then lacked a creative edge to make the most of our dominating possession for the rest of the half.
“To give away another goal when the teams came back is inexcusable and left us having to open up and chase the game which is a dangerous tactic against intelligent front players like Gemmell and McRobbie.
“Thankfully we survived a few near things to get back on level terms and I certainly felt we finished the stronger of the sides.”
Second-placed Renfrew failed to capitalise on their title rivals dropping points after Colin Clark’s men were also forced to settle for a share of the spoils against fourth placed Troon who twice led at New Western Park through Steven McReadie and Ross Barbour goals only to be pegged back each time by Scott Morton and Thomas Miller scores for a Frew side who sawJamie Benton sent off for two yellow cards.
Largs Thistle’s step-up hopes suffered a blow in losing 2-1 away to Irvine Meadow for whom Ryan Begley and Eddie McTernan were on target and there was another surprise upset at Gasworks Park where ambitious Cumbernauld United were beaten 2-1 by Larkhall Thistle for whom Mark Canning and Billy Robb capped a second-half comeback after Ross McCabe had headed United into the lead.
Kello Rovers and Kilsyth Rangers drew 3-3 in the league’s other game.
In the Super Premier, Adam Forde netted a brace to help Pollok beat Hurlford United 2-0.