Carluke Rovers v Ashfield

26 May 2012
SJFA West Region, Cup Winners Cup, Quarter Final
Carluke Rovers 2 Ashfield 6 (att 103)

A comfortable afternoon for Ashfield, apart from a short spell towards the end of the first half when they conceded twice to see their commanding early lead cut to just 3-2 before half time.

Any hopes the home side had of completing their fightback in the second half were dashed as the visitors, who play three divisions higher, quickly reasserted their control. If the John Cumming Stadium had goal line technology then Ashfield would have had a seventh goal.

Apart from being a useful source of late season football, I've never been sure what the point of the West Region Juniors' Cup Winners Cup is. Not just cramming an extra cup into an already lengthy season, but as the entrants are all winners of the region's various cups and leagues several are not known until the competition is underway.

To add to the confusion, this was Carluke's second heavy defeat in the cup. They were reinstated after Petershill fielded an ineligible player in their 6-0 win against the Second Division Champions in the last round.

Carluke's John Cumming Stadium, on the edge of the Lanarkshire town, is fairly new. The all-weather pitch looks immaculate, but it's surrounded by an athletics track so getting a decent view of the action is difficult, despite a central section of covered terracing, some shallower open terracing, and grass banking on the far side.