Clydebank Post | Sport | Vet Claff has the last laugh

Sunday, 11th May, 2008

Published: Wednesday, 7th May, 2008 10:05

Vet Claff has the last laugh

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SKILL: Tommy Jordan sets up the winner.

Yoker Athletic 3 Lanark United 2

VETERAN hitman Billy McLafferty was the hat-trick hero as Yoker brought down the curtain on their league campaign with a fine victory over the title favourites.

United knew a win would almost guarantee promotion but they encountered a Whe-Ho side hungry for the points themselves.

The match started at a frantic pace and both sides had decent early chances — Paul Keegans coming close for United while David Watt narrowly missed for the home side.

McLafferty was denied by a block from defender Craig Stark on 20 minutes but shortly after they took the lead. Tommy Jordan sent Watt free down the right and he crossed for strike partner McLafferty who neatly tucked home.

Yoker’s defence, including recent signing Willie McKellar, coped well against the highly rated front pair of Keegans and John Osbourne but six minutes before the break, it was David Gray from the penalty spot who levelled the match.

Kenny Murray replaced Alan Prentice shortly afterwards as he limped off with a hamstring injury.

The second half had barely started when Stark rose unchallenged to nod home a Darren Jaffray corner to give the visitors the lead.

The home side responded well and equalised on 70 minutes when Lanark failed to properly clear a Kenny Murray corner.

His delicate chip to the back post found McLafferty who had the simplest of headers from three yards out.

Now in the driving seat, Jordan and Frew were now seeing plenty of the ball in the wide areas and Watt may have done better from a Frew delivery but his header went straight at the visiting keeper.

With eight minutes left, McLafferty sealed his hat-trick, and the win in style. Jordan displayed a rare change of pace to cut inside from the flank before playing a delightful little reverse pass to McLafferty who slid home comfortably. The veteran hitman rolled back the years at the end of a distinctively colourful career in the game at both junior and senior level.

Whe-Ho keeper Kenny Meechan pulled off a stunning save, his finest of the season, to deny a Keegans volley from six yards.

Yoker Athletic: Meechan, McKay, Marshall, Brady, McKellar, Cameron, McLafferty (man of the match), Jordan, Watt, Frew, Prentice, Bissland, Slythe, Jaap, Murray.

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