Forget bad luck, we must believe
Newmains boss Muirhead in rallying cry to team Newmains lost the lead twice
Newmains United .....2 Lanark United ...........3
Michael Temlett Newmains United were on the end of another last-minute heartbreak as they lost out to Lanark on Saturday.
A Kieran O’Hear double was not enough to give United their second point of the season after goals from Kieran McGurk, David Bannerman and a late Shaun Gallagher strike sealed a win for the visitors.
Newmains boss Kevin Muirhead admits he can’t believe his side’s luck so far this season.
He said: “We’ve had a bit of bad luck but we also lack that belief in the closing stages and we need to turn that around. “Every game we play we think we have a chance of winning and we were the better side for the majority of the game. “We scored too early in the second half and after we did so the gameplan went out the window. It’s extremely disappointing.” The United boss is looking to bounce back this weekend with a local derby against Carluke Rovers in the Central District Second Division. Muirhead said: “Carluke are in top form right now but we’ll go into the game like we do every other – believing we can win.” Newmains started brightly on Saturday and thought they had grabbed the lead after Gary Stewart raced on to a flick-on and slotted the ball into the back of the net. However, the referee had ruled out the goal for offside. But it was an encouraging opening Newmains United have conceded 32 goals this season – the highest in the league – and scored only 13, the fewest in the division. Newmains have started to score more freely and look more of a threat in the final third. Kevin Muirhead is right – Newmains have to believe right up until the final whistle. for United and Lanark were being frustrated at their lack of clear- cut chances.
But on 30 minutes they found an opener after McGurk made space on the edge of the area and fired past Newmains’ new keeper Paul McKane.
Lanark’s lead only lasted five minutes, however, as a miscued McLauchlan cross found O’Hear who stuck the ball in the back of the net.
The visitors started the second half well and were awarded a penalty on the half-hour mark as O’Donnell was clumsily taken down by O’Keefe.
But lady luck was shining on Newmains as McKane sharply saved Lawson’s weak effort.
It looked as if that miss had cost Lanark dearly as six minutes later a chipped pass up the line sent O’Hear scampering free and he beautifully chipped the Lanark keeper to give his side the lead.
Newmains didn’t hold their lead for too long and on 75 minutes they were clawed back level.
A low cross came across the Newmains box and substitute Bannerman reacted first and drove a shot below the keeper to tie the scores.
That goal really seemed to take the stuffing out of the home side and they found it increasing difficult to get out.
McKane did well again to turn away a shot when O’Donnell went on a solo run across the edge of the
PWDL Glasgow Perth 13 9 2 2 Port Glasgow 11 9 0 2 Lanark United F.C. 12 5 3 4 Gartcairn F.C. 13 6 0 7 CARLUKE ROVERS 11 5 2 4 Vale of Leven F.C. 12 4 4 4 St. Anthony’s F.C. 12 4 3 5 Dunipace F.C. 94 23 EK Thistle F.C. 84 1 3 Royal Albert F.C. 12 3 1 8 Ashfield F.C. 10 2 3 5 NEWMAINS UTD 90 1 8 Pts 29 27 18 18 17 16 15 14 13 10 9 1
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box unchallenged before his shot was turned away by the keeper.
Pressure from Lanark persisted but just as it seemed Newmains might hold on for a point, the visitors scored.
As the pressure mounted, Kearney tried a shot from near the edge of the box which was blocked but, cruelly for the home side, it ran straight into the path of Gallagher who sidefooted it wide of the keeper to claim all three points.