LANARK TURNUP LEAGUE2 TITLE BID
Lanark United rounded off their 2018 fixtures with a 2-0 win at home to St Anthony’s to boost their League Two title prospects.
That result – their 12th win of the season – moved them five points clear of second-placed Lesmahagow, although they have a game in hand.
United started well, with Ian Watt sending over a right-wing cross in 12 minutes which was narrowly missed in front of goal by Lewis Hill.
The visitors had a good spell of pressure after that but rarely troubled United keeper Gareth Hallford.
Defender Cammy Lawson went close with a free kick in three minutes, which went narrowly wide of target.
Chances were few and far between but United took the lead in 41 minutes when Ants’ keeper Owen Mccallum badly fumbled a headed passback on the edge of the box and Declan Lafferty took advantage to roll the ball into the empty net.
Three minutes later Danny Mchugh won a corner after a great run, and when the ball came across, Hill was unlucky to see his header cleared off the line.
Ants were awarded a free-kick just outside the box in 70 minutes and Scott Arthur sent his effort inches wide of the post.
Having survived that scare, Lanark scored their second seven minutes later when left-back Martin Smith collected the ball and advanced, before sending a left-foot rocket shot from 35 yards which flew into the roof of the net.
Forth Wanderers drew 1-1 at home to Muirkirk in a game where the visitors had the better of the firsthalf play.
Having weathered that, Forth’s David Donnelly scored from a header in 63 minutes, but substitute Jay Burns was red-carded six minutes later – and the pendulum swung in favour of Muirkirk.
It was no surprise when Muirkirk forced home an equaliser in 84 minutes.
Muirkirk were then reduced to 10 men when dissent earned one of their number an early shower.
Both sides then had chances to win the game and Muirkirk went closest in stoppage time, when keeper Gareth Watson was forced to make a fine block.
League Two actually fared quite well with the winter weather over the weekend, with Thorniewood v Carluke the only postponement affecting county clubs.
In the other game to go ahead, Vale of Leven thumped Newmains 6-2.
Lee Mcgeachy bagged a hat-trick, with goals from Adam Monaghan, David Mcnaught and Andrew Clark as Vale ran riot, in a game in which both sides were reduced to 10 men inside the first half, with Paul Donaghy seeing red for Newmains.
David Banks, with a penalty, and Gerry Lafferty got Newmains’s goals.