9-man Lanark snatch a win

Late red cards don’t stop United returning home with three points

VALE OF LEVEN ................................ 3 LANARK UNITED .............................. 4 Lanark United made the trip to thirdplaced Vale of Leven a rewarding one by claiming three points from their 4-3 win – despite having two players ordered off in the later stages.

Vale started well and took the lead on nine minutes when Richard Stewart headed home a right-wing corner.

United came back to equalise a minute later when Ian Watt ran through to score with a right-foot shot.

Both sides had chances to score but some good saves by both goalkeepers kept the score level at the half-time break.

But it was United who took the lead on 55 minutes when Cammy Lawson fired in a tremendous free-kick from 25 yards which beat the ‘keeper at his right-hand post.

Vale hit back to level on 70 minutes through Lee Mcgeachy before trouble erupted when Vale rightback Craig Cowan was red-carded for a punch on Lewis Hill.

Lanark’s Hugh Kerr retaliated by pushing Cowan in the face and he too was ordered off.

Vale snatched the lead when Chris Jackson netted from a right-wing cross from Mcgeachy, but United hit back with an equaliser on 83 minutes when a Watt right-wing cross was headed strongly into the net by Cammy Lawson.

United’s James Martin was then shown two yellow cards in quick succession, leaving United with nine men.

But again, Lanark showed their fighting spirit when a left-wing cross was knocked down in the six-yard box and Hill pounced to drive the ball into the net for the winning goal in a hotly contested game.