LESMAHAGOW JUNIORS (Craighead Park)

WEST OF SCOTLAND REGION CENTRAL DISTRICT DIVISION ONE , LESMAHAGOW JUNIORS 4-1 DUNIPACE JUNIORS, ATTENDANCE: 284



Nae Paper!

Another weekend, another trip North!

I was part of a travelling party of four Groundhoppers heading to Scotland. Before we set off we took a vote as to our destination, the options being either Larkhall Thistle or Lesmahagow Juniors. The vote on the latter was carried unanimously.

Both games were a straight shoot out for the runners-up spot, behind Greenock Juniors, and the promotion to the West Superleague First Division that went with it.

Lesmahagow held the upper hand in the sense that if they did the business then it would not matter what Larkhall did. If the 'Gow drew or lost then it was up to Thistle to take advantage.

After a "pit stop" in the Wetherspoons in Lanark, we made it to the ground in good time despite the postcode that was given on most channels being wrong (the ground is actually about a mile down the road).

Craighead Park is simply one of best grounds I have been to this season. From the main road you walk down into this glorious amphitheatre....

The covered stand was full of local youths adding to the atmosphere with a large flag and a loudspeaker, not unlike what you get in the Bundesliga.

Dunipace started the brightest and probably shaded the opening period. A Craig Reade penalty (pictured left) gave the visitors the lead after 28 minutes, which they held onto until the break.

News filtered through that Larkhall were winning, which meant as it stood it would be them who were promoted. That must have made Robert Irving's half time team talk pretty straight forward.

Whatever was said did the trick. John Logan (47) and Kris Jarvie (57) put the homesters in front and after that the result was never in doubt. Jarvie bagged his second with five minutes remaining to get the party started before a Colin Boylan penalty (87, pictured right) sparked wild celebrations.

There was a pitch invasion at the climax of the game as fans and players celebrated as one. Someone even let off a smoke bomb, which seem to be de rigueur at games these days.

Another top day in Scotland and I managed to maintain my reputation for "eating all the pies" as I bagged the last pie at Half Time!!!



The Lesmahagow players celebrate their promotion