Watt a way to maintain run
Former Carluke Rovers hero Ian Watt came back to haunt his old side as his 49thminute header maintained Lanark United’s 14-game winning run in League Two.
Watt struck from a Peter O’donnell corner to stretch their lead at the top of the league to eight points over idle Lesmahagow.
Rovers’ best chance fell to Steph Larkin in the 70th minute, but Gareth Hallford made a fine save.
In an impressive season so far for Lanark, they have only suffered one defeat and a draw from 17 games, with 15 wins in total.
Lesmahagow have two games in hand over United, while Rovers remain in fourth on 36 points, having played five more than ’Gow and three more than Lanark.
Lanark’s win was their fourth over rivals Carluke this season, and striker Watt was barracked throughout the game by a home support who used to cheer him on.
United had a chance in the first minute when Stuart Annetts sent a fine pass to Watt, but a block from keeper Davie Cherrie kept him out.
Chances were few and far between until Josh Gracie darted down the right but his cut-back was fired over by Lewis Hill.
Lanark thought they had taken the lead in 15 minutes when O’donnell’s ball to the back post saw Mark Haddow challenge Cherrie and his header looked to be creeping over the line before it was hacked clear by Mark Cassidy.
Watt fired wide, and Hill tried to knock the ball down to Declan Lafferty, but Cherrie got a touch on it to take it off his toe.
Four minutes into the second half Watt sent a glancing header past helpless Cherrie from O’donnell’s corner.
They tried to double that lead shortly afterwards when Lafferty laid the ball to Watt, but this time Cherrie made a fine save to deny him.
Larkin saw a shot well saved by Hallford, before Haddow put in a good block to keep Lanark’s slender lead intact.
Haddow was involved at the other end in 82 minutes when he played in Watt, but the striker’s shot slipped just past the post.
Meanwhile, Storm Erik took its toll on the Junior fixtures, with seven county sides postponed.
In League One, Bellshill Athletic’s visit to East Kilbride Thistle, Blantyre’s trek to Maryhill and Shotts’ trip to Maybole were all off, as was Wishaw v Glasgow Perthshire.
Forth Wanderers’ match at home to Vale of Leven in League Two was called off, as was Lesmahagow’s visit to Johnstone Burgh and Newmains United’s game at home to St Anthony’s. seeing their games