Thistle rout leaves Bellshill floundering
Central League round-up
Larkhall Thistle clocked up a 5-1 win over Bellshill Athletic to move up to third place in the Central First Division.
Michael Brunton scored for Bellshill, but Josh Payne equalised direct from a corner, and Graham Gracie made it 2-1 in a five-minute burst before the break.
Davie Reid headed in a Mark Canning cross after some promising Bellshill pressure, then Canning bagged a fourth, and Matt Clarke a fifth.
Larkhall manager Duncan Sinclair said:“we played really well and could have been further ahead in the first half.”
Bellshill boss Robert Sneddon said:“we had several players on holiday but the young lads drafted in did well; now we’ve got to battle on to climb up the league.”
Wishaw boss Chris Mcgroarty hopes his side can kick-start their season by going on a winning run in the Central First Division, starting at Lesmahagow on Saturday.
The Central Second Division was a highscoring scene, with three county clubs sharing 13 goals for the loss of just one.
Carluke Rovers won 4-1 away to St Anthony’s, with Ian Watt notching a hat-trick and Greg Fernie the other, after Ants had netted the opener.
Manager Colin Slater said:“i’m disappointed at us losing the goal to a defensive error, but we played well.”
Rovers were missing experienced players in Mark Weir (suspended), Chris Mccole, Alberto Vessa, Craig Stark and Stewart Miller (family commitments).
Lanark United beat Dunipace 4-0.
Alan Christie scored from a David Bannerman pass in six minutes, and Kieran Mcgurk netted with a powerful drive in 10 minutes, and another in 23 minutes.
An improving Dunipace were unable to trouble a dominant Lanark defence before David O’donnell scored a fourth in 76 minutes.
Manager John Brogan said:“we played really well, with the young boys fitting in well.”
Royal Albert clocked up a 5-0 win over Ashfield, with Eddie Haley notching a hat-trick.
Other goals came from a Barry Murdoch free-kick and an Alan Campbell shot.
Manager Jamie Nesbitt said:“the lads rallied well to produce a competent performance.”