Lanark United win first cup honours
Yowes crowned Clydesdale Cup champions
Lanark Utd ......... 4 Forth Wds .......... 1 Lanark United bounced back from a goal down to beat Forth Wanderers 4-1 to win the Clydesdale Challenge Cup.
Playing a key role in that comeback win was Kyle Maxwell, who marked his debut by bagging a goal either side of the interval.
Striker Maxwell, who was snapped up by manager John Brogan after spending a couple of years on a scholarship in America, said: “I just wanted to make a good impression in my first game.
“When the opportunities arose I wanted to make sure I was in the right position and ready to make contact – it worked out well.”
Forth were quick off the mark, with Kris Dick having a shot blocked on the edge of the six-yard box, before Willie Mclaren cashed in when he fired a Taylor Scott pass low into the corner in 10 minutes.
Lanark withstood the early pressure and midway through the first half went close when Allan Christie had a 30-yarder blocked, Alan Mccrum fired inches wide and Gordon Murphy headed over a Kieran Mcgurk cross.
Shaun Gallagher then pounced on a Gary Duggan pass to equalise with a low drive in 27 minutes.
Mccrum had a 30-yard shot saved at the post on the halfhour mark, and on the stroke of half-time Maxwell headed in a Duggan chip.
Mcgurk shot wide and Cammy Lawson headed just past the post before Maxwell struck again on the hour-mark to put Lanark 3-1 ahead.
Forth’s Craig Gutwell was redcarded in 74 minutes for a foul on Mccrum.
Mclaren had a shot saved but Lanark hit back with narrow misses by Duggan and Mcgurk, before the latter notched a last-minute goal to put United 4-1 in front.
Boss Brogan said: “For the first 20 minutes Forth Wanderers were much the better team, but after that I thought we dominated the game.
“It was a good team effort, with some good individual performances and some great goals.
“It was an outstanding debut for young trialist Kyle Maxwell, who in his first game scored two goals and had an assist in another.”
Forth Wanderers boss Jamie Mckenzie said: “I think, first and foremost, the better team won.
“I thought for the first 15 or 20 minutes we did well and scored a good goal, but after that I felt we were second best in every area of the park.
“We weren’t at our best, but that’s no excuse – Lanark were better than us on the day.”