Rovers’ promotion bid back on track

Carluke Rovers ..... 4 St Anthony’s ......... 0 Carluke responded to back-to-back defeats by hammering St Anthony’s at home on Saturday.

After losing to Vale of Leven and Lanark United following a Scottish Cup last-16 exit at the hands of Gartcairn Juniors, it was important Colin Slater’s side picked up the three points if they wanted to stay in the promotion hunt.

And they had a better start than they could have dreamed of when they hit the net after just 14 seconds.

From kick-off, Mark Weir played the ball down the left to Ian Watt who cut inside and fired low and hard into the Ants’net.

But that amazing start misled the fans – as it was all there was to really talk about in a dull first half. It wasn’t until the second period that Rovers extended their lead.

Watt raced towards goal, went past two defenders and rifled home his and Carluke’s second.

And it was 3-0 a few minutes later when good build-up play from Jonny Wilson allowed him to find Watt on the edge of the Ants’box. He looked to have lost his chance but back-heeled a great ball into the path of Weir who hammered home.

The scoring was complete after 66 minutes when Mark Haddow was brought down on the edge of the box and Watt grabbed his hat-trick from the resulting free-kick.