Clydebank Post | Sport | Promotion hopes still alive

Saturday, 17th May, 2008

Published: Wednesday, 30th April, 2008 10:15

Promotion hopes still alive

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St Roch’s 0 Yoker Athletic 1

YOKER kept their slim promotion hopes alive on Saturday with a hard fought win at Provanmill Park.

Alan Prentice returned to the side, with Kenny Murray dropped to the bench.

Conditions were far from ideal as a strong wind blew across the bumpy surface but Yoker started well and both Prentice and his strike partner David Watt passed up good chances. Gilt edged best describes Prentice’s miss from six yards out.

Veteran Whe-Ho keeper Kenny Meechan made a magnificent save to deny a deflected John Heeps strike in the Saints only chance of the half.

In the second half, the conditions changed and the strong wind was now blowing straight at Meechan.

Yoker prepared for an ariel bombardment from the candy rock but instead took a deserved lead. Midfield dynamo Lenny Marshall latched onto Prentice’s cut back and fired high into the top corner with an hour gone.

The strike from the pint-sized midfielder was not only emphatic but a rarity too, being Marshall’s first of the season.

As expected, the home side rallied and Stuart McGhee hit the woodwork with a header that left Meechan rooted to the spot. Sean Brady then cleared the danger as Yoker tried to stem the onslaught.

After a headed chance from Scott Cameron, the Candy Rock struck the woodwork for a second time from a header.

McLafferty almost sealed the points for the Whe-Ho when he broke clear on the counter attack but his lob over the advancing keeper from 30 yards went wide.

It was a tense final few minutes for the Whe-Ho as the whistler played almost five minutes of stoppage time but Brady, Smith and McKay held firm at the back for Yoker.

Matchwinner Marshall just shaded the VB Contracts man of the match from veteran McLafferty.

Yoker Athletic: Meechan, Smith, Marshall, Brady, McKay, Cameron, McLafferty, Jordan (Murray), Watt (McAdam), Frew Prentice. Unused subs: Bissland, McKellar, Wardrop (GK).

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