WIN BATTLE OF THE JAGS
Larkhall Thistle beat East Kilbride Thistle 2-0 on Saturday, moving up two places to fifth in Mcbookie.com West League 1.
Lanark United stayed sixth after drawing 2-2 at Lesmahagow, who remained in seventh spot.
Wishaw leapt up four places to 11th with their 1-0 win at home to Maryhill.
Carluke Rovers dropped from fifth to ninth following their 2-1 defeat at Port Glasgow, and Royal Albert are down to 15th, after their clash at home to Ardrossan Winton Rovers fell foul of the weather.
Bellshill Athletic are unmoved in second place, despite their game against Port Glasgow being postponed, but they now have two games in hand over third-placed Greenock.
Larkhall were looking to put some pressure on teams above them as they hosted East Kilbride, and after a fairly even first 25 minutes they got on top of the game.
That pressure paid off five minutes into the second half when Dom Chiedu floated a cross to Jack Currie and he took a touch before slamming it into the net.
Currie headed a Scott Cowan cross straight at the East Kilbride keeper in 65 minutes, but Thistle scored their winner 60 seconds later when Graham Gracie was decked inside the box and sent the spot-kick into the net.
East Kilbride tried to take advantage of a sleepy defence after that and forced a good save from David Cherrie, before heading just wide.
However, Gracie had a chance to stretch Larkhall’s lead when he sped past three defenders and sent an angled shot inches wide, with Currie sliding in but unable to connect with the ball.
East Kilbride nearly pulled a goal back late on, but saw a shot rebound off the inside of a post and out to safety.
Lesmahagow were left frustrated as Lanark United fought back to grab a valuable point on Saturday.
Leading 2-1 through a Kris Jarvie double, the veteran striker then had a chance to notch his hat-trick, but fluffed his lines with the goal gaping and was then booked for ‘diving’ in an incident that his bench all felt was a clear penalty.
The game exploded into life with three goals in as many minutes.
Jason Thomson’s low cross was tapped in by Jarvie to break the deadlock in 20 minutes, and the striker picked up a loose ball minutes later, ran past two defenders and chipped the ball over keeper Scott Johnson who, in trying to save it, succeeded only in pushing it into the air, with Jarvie racing in to finish.
Lanark pulled a goal back when Scott Nicol combined with Kieran Brannon to send Hugh Kerr into the box, and he turned before firing low into the corner.
United pushed ahead for an equaliser, but instead ’Gow could have stretched their lead before the interval when Thomson was sent through on goal, but was denied by a post.
At the other end, James Martin cut inside past a couple of defenders but sent his shot inches wide.
The second half served up few genuine chances for either side but Lanark pushed for a leveller in the last 10 minutes, and that eventually paid off.
The visitors forced a corner in the last minute, and after Jordan Fraser saw a header deflected over, he powered a header in from a second delivery.
’Gow boss Robert Irving said: “Kris Jarvie missed an open goal at 2-1, Jason Thomson hit the post at 2-0, then Ryan Connolly missed an open goal.
“I feel we created plenty of chances to win the game, but when you don’t take your chances it always comes back to bite you.”
That leaves Lesmahagow, Lanark, Larkhall and Bellshill amongst seven clubs who are separated by three points.
Lanark and Lesmahagow are both on 22, three points off leaders Shettleston, but they have at least one game in hand over both.
Carluke Rovers crashed 2-1 to a Port Glasgow side who grabbed their fourth win on the bounce, despite both sides being reduced to 10 men.
The game boiled over in 19 minutes when Port captain Barry Mclaughlin punched Ciaran Lafferty off the ball when the referee wasn’t looking, but the Rovers man retaliated when he was, and both were sent off.
When James van Nuil was fouled inside the box, Steph Larkin stepped up and although his effort was blocked by the Port keeper, he knocked in the rebound.
Port levelled when John Gallacher’s cross was headed in by Danny Bamford, and the provider turned scorer for their second with a shot from distance that deceived keeper Adam Brown.
Wishaw beat 10-man Maryhill 1-0 on Saturday, with their winner coming from a Mick Mcgaraghan penalty in just three minutes.
Meanwhile, Bellshill have signed Jordan Logan from St Roch’s on a four-week loan.
Wishaw are holding a Race Night at Beltane Bowling Club on Saturday, at 7pm for a 7.30pm start. Races, raffles, buffet and DJ are available for £5 entry.